David Mussafer, WG’90, chairman and managing partner of Advent joined the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program at Wharton on November 19.

David Mussafer, WG’90, is Chairman and Managing Partner of Advent – one of the world’s leading global private equity firms with more than $66 billion in assets under management. During his visit to Wharton, he gave a presentation to students on the dynamics of the evolving global investment landscape, and the qualities that define effective leadership in the industry. Burcu Esmer, academic co-director of the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program, offered an introduction for David Mussafer’s lecture.
“David Mussafer’s talk was an inspiring deep dive into the transformation of the industry over the last four decades. He shared firsthand stories about the pivotal decisions that shaped Advent International’s global growth, the importance of adaptability in investing, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. His insights on the rise of evergreen funds, private credit, and AI-driven investing sparked thought-provoking discussions about where the industry is headed.
At the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program, we are committed to bringing together students and practitioners to engage in meaningful conversations that push the boundaries of investment thinking. We are grateful to David for sharing his experiences with such candor, humor, and wisdom—leaving our students with a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed in private equity.”
– Burcu Esmer, academic co-director of the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program





David Mussafer is joined here by the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program’s academic directors, Burcu Esmer and Bilge Yilmaz.
Learn more about the Harris Program on our website.
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Photo credit: Shira Yudkoff Photography