Designed for business decision makers and consultants, this six-week program will help learners develop a comprehensive understanding of the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) process to discover new business opportunities.

April 22, 2024

PHILADELPHIA, PA: Emeritus, in collaboration with the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, announces the launch of its six-week M&A and Corporate Development Strategies program. This online program is designed for executives who aim to use M&A as a key tool for bolstering their business by equipping them with the skills to tackle the entire life cycle of an M&A deal-making process. Emeritus, the global leader in making high-quality education accessible and affordable, has begun enrollment for this program that starts in May 2024.

According to Deloitte’s 2024 M&A trends survey, 83 percent of corporate and private-equity leaders said they expect their own organizations’ deal volume to increase in 2024. Additionally, an S&P Global report shows that 80 percent of M&A dealmakers anticipate acceleration across the tech M&A market in the coming year. These findings underscore the importance of using mergers and acquisitions as a key tool to bring transformations to deals relevant to evolving market changes.

The M&A and Corporate Development Strategies program offers business leaders and consultants a comprehensive understanding of mergers and acquisitions for corporate development and business growth. Leveraging the wisdom of Wharton’s distinguished faculty and the program frameworks, participants will learn the aspects of mergers from start to finish. Through a blend of cutting-edge curriculum, topical case studies, try-it activities, and scenario-based assignments, the program will enable the participants to strategically influence M&A for their organizations’ corporate restructuring and growth. Upon completion of the program, participants will be awarded a verified digital certificate.

“Navigating the M&A landscape requires a deep understanding of market conditions, as well as sophisticated tactics for overcoming the various challenges and constraints that might arise. A proactive approach is critical for ensuring business growth,” said Emilie R. Feldman, professor of management at the Wharton School and academic director of this program. “The M&A and Corporate Development Strategies program is uniquely tailored for executives to hone their skills and have a strong grasp of both the opportunities and risks of M&A and corporate development.”

The program is ideal for business leaders who bolster the strategic and financial goals of their organizations using mergers and acquisitions. They can include senior leaders in corporate finance and investment, M&A decision makers and managers, and senior advisors and consultants who maintain client confidence during a period of reduced deal activity.

“The robust curriculum, scenario-based learning, and practical frameworks of the M&A and Corporate Development Strategies program prepare participants to analyze the risks and benefits of developing a tested growth plan to generate maximum value for their deals,” said Mike Malefakis, president of university partnerships at Emeritus. “We are delighted to collaborate with Wharton Executive Education to equip business leaders with critical skills and knowledge to steer their organizations toward growth.”

For more information and to apply, please visit the program home page.


About Wharton Executive Education

Wharton Executive Education has served as the global leader in executive development for 35 years. Steeped in the heritage and analytical insights of the Wharton School, with an eye toward shaping the future of business, Wharton Executive Education’s individual, online, and custom programs prepare over 100,000 professionals a year to transform their careers and organizations. For more information on Wharton Executive Education’s practical business solutions, visit executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu.


About Emeritus

Emeritus is committed to teaching the skills of the future by making high-quality education accessible and affordable to individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide. It does this by collaborating with more than 80 top-tier universities across the United States, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, India, and China. Emeritus' short courses, degree programs, professional certificates, and senior executive programs help individuals learn new skills and transform their lives, companies, and organizations. Its unique model of state-of-the-art technology; curriculum innovation; and hands-on instruction from senior faculty, mentors, and coaches has educated more than 350,000 individuals across more than 80 countries. For more information, please visit https://emeritus.org.


About the Wharton School

Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With a faculty of more than 235 renowned professors, Wharton has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs, and thousands of pre-collegiate students explore business concepts through Wharton’s Global Youth Program. More than 105,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. For more information, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.


Media Contact

Sarah SchwabDirector of Communications Aresty Institute of Executive Education
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
execed-pr@wharton.upenn.edu