Events
2023 Wharton Alternative Investments Summit: Global Allocators
Top allocators from around the world will gather to share insights and best practices on investment strategies and portfolio management. This exclusive event offers a unique opportunity to learn from and engage with some of the most prominent names in the industry.
Participants uncover the key challenges, emerging trends and strategic considerations faced by global allocators through open forum and discussion.
View a recap of the 2023 Wharton Alternative Investments Summit: Global Allocators here.
Guest Speakers and Fireside Chats
December 6, 2024: Trends in M&A Market and Deal Flow: Insights and Outlook with Paul J. Taubman
The Harris Program welcomed Paul J. Taubman, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of PJT Partners for a conversation for Wharton students.
Since its founding in 2014, PJT Partners has become one of the fastest growing and most respected advisory firms. Prior to founding PJT Partners, Taubman spent nearly 30 years at Morgan Stanley where he served in a series of increasingly senior positions, including as executive vice president and Co-President of Institutional Securities, with responsibility for all of the firm’s investment banking, capital markets, and sales and trading businesses.
November 21, 2024: Private Equity’s Journey: Where It’s Been, Where It’s Headed with Jonathan Coslet
The Harris Program welcomed Jonathan Coslet, vice chair of TPG for an exclusive conversation for Wharton students on November 21. Mr. Coslet is the Vice Chair of TPG and has been with TPG since 1993, most recently serving as Chief Investment Officer until 2020. Mr. Coslet currently serves on the public company boards of Cushman & Wakefield, LifeTime Fitness and Nextracker Inc. and has, within the last five years, served on the board of IQVIA Holdings, Inc.
November 19, 2024: Navigating the Evolution of Private Equity: Insights, Stories, and Future Trends with David Mussafer
The Harris Program welcomed David Mussafer, chairman and managing partner of Advent International, LP for a conversation for Wharton students on November 19.
David Mussafer is Chairman and Managing Partner of Advent International, LP – one of the world’s leading global private equity firms with more than $66 billion in assets under management. David serves on Advent’s Global Executive Committee and serves on the firm’s regional private equity investment committees, in addition to Advent’s public equity fund, Advent Global Opportunities.
November 16, 2023: Fireside Chat with Sachin Khajuria
Sachin Khajuria, author of Two-and-Twenty: How the Masters of Private Equity Always Win, visited Wharton for a fireside chat about how to succeed in private equity.
This event was moderated by Harris Family Alternative Investments Program director Burcu Esmer and hosted by the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program, the Wharton Undergraduate Private Equity and Venture Capital Club, and the Wharton MBA Private Equity and Venture Capital Club.
View a photo recap of the fireside chat here.
February 7, 2023: Conversation with Dominique Mielle
Dominique Mielle, author of Damsel in Distressed: My Life in the Golden Age of Hedge Fund and a former partner and senior portfolio manager at Canyon Partners, a $25 billion multi-strategy hedge fund, discusses the industry, career in hedge fund and women in distressed investing.
View a recording of the conversation here.
September 26, 2022: Jacop Rentschler of Zoscales Partners on Launching A New Private Equity Firm
As part of the Global Investor Series, Ziad Sarkis moderates a conversation with Jacop B. Rentschler, co-founder and managing partner at Zoscales Partners, on the topic of launching a new private equity firm. They discuss what goes into establishing a private equity firm and share experiences, advice, and best practices for prospective PE firm founders on what to expect, consider, and plan for when embarking on this ambitious and unique journey.
Watch the interview here.
Explore recent events organized and sponsored by the Harris Program
December 9, 2024: The Wharton Future of Finance Forum
The second annual Wharton Future of Finance Forum took place at Penn Washington. This year’s event brought together leading voices from academia, industry, and government to explore the transformative forces shaping global finance.
With the theme Power Shift: Driving Global Finance and Unleashing Capital in a Bold New Era, the Forum featured engaging panel sessions, insightful fireside chats, and invaluable networking opportunities, showcasing the power of collaboration and innovation in navigating this pivotal moment in financial history.
View a recap of the event here.
September 26, 2024: Wharton Alternative Investments Day
On September 26, 2024, the Wharton PE & VC Alumni Association and the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program hosted Alternative Investments Day in Philadelphia, bringing together a distinguished audience of alumni, industry leaders, and practitioners. With welcome remarks from Dean Erika James and dynamic sessions led by Wharton faculty, the event offered exclusive insights into the evolving private equity and alternative investments landscape.
This event event provided a unique opportunity for attendees to hear from experts, engage in thoughtful discussions, and connect with peers in the alternative investments field.
View a photo recap of Wharton Alternative Investments Day here.
February 9-10, 2024: Wharton Latin American Conference
The Wharton Latin American Conference is the world’s largest LATAM conference organized by MBA students. The conference’s mission is to establish an open and multicultural forum to generate and discuss ideas about the future of Latin America, debate key business opportunities and challenges of our region, and generate a concrete path forward toward economic development, social equality, and political stability.
View a photo recap of the WHALAC Conference here.
January 26, 2024: Wharton Women in Investing Conference
Wharton Women in Investing held its third annual conference at Convene in New York City. The conference theme was growth and good governance as investors.
The Wharton Women in Investing conference is an empowering event sponsored by the Harris Program, designed for women and allies eager to navigate the dynamic world of investing. This conference offered a unique platform to connect with industry leaders, gain invaluable insights, and explore the latest trends in investing.
View a photo recap of the Wharton Women in Investing Conference here.
October 17-18, 2023: The Wharton Future of Finance Forum
The Wharton School gathered leading thinkers in academia, practice, and government for the inaugural Future of Finance Forum. Roundtable sessions and fireside chats explored the most pressing current issues in finance under the theme, “Paradigm Shift: Powering with Innovation & Financial Technology.”
Discussions encompassed the post-banking crisis landscape and the new order of the global banking ecosystem, explored the global framework and existential risks associated with artificial intelligence, dissected the most promising avenues for sustainable investments, scrutinized the complex policy matters surrounding digital assets and digital currencies, and weighed the implications of an instant payment system on financial inclusion.
View a recap of the Future of Finance Forum here.
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