David Wessels
Adjunct Professor of Finance at The Wharton School
Schools
- The Wharton School
Expertise
- Retail
- Beverages
- Electronic and Electrical Equipment
- Investment and Financial Services
- Private Wealth
- Corporate Governance
- Strategy
- Travel and Hospitality
- Construction and Civil Engineering
- Venture capital
- General Management Programs
- Business Services and Consulting
- Leadership
- Digital Transformation
- Marketing
- Change management
- Human Capital Management
- Business Communication
- Defense and Aerospace
- Transportation and Logistics
- Industry and Manufacturing
- Family Business
- Information Technology
- Operations
- Finance
- Negotiations
- Entrepreneurship
- Investment
Links
Biography
The Wharton School
David Wessels is an Adjunct Professor of Finance, and a Director of Executive Education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. David teaches courses on corporate valuation, venture capital, and performance management to undergraduates and MBA’s in Philadelphia and San Francisco, and executive audiences globally.
Professor Wessels has been recognized by his students with the school's MBA excellence in teaching award, and has been acknowledged nationally for his research on organizational structure and financial performance. His coauthored book, Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, is accepted as the seminal text for students of corporate valuation and investment banking.
In addition to his teaching on campus, Professor Wessels has served on the executive development and training faculties at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, CocaCola, Ericsson, Estee Lauder, Home Depot, Lockheed Martin, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, Philips, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Siemens, and UPS.
Before joining the Wharton School, David served on finance faculty of the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Prior to Emory, he was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and a technology analyst for Bostonbased Harbourvest Venture Partners. David holds a PhD in finance from UCLA Anderson School of Management, a BS in economics and a BAS in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Awards and Honors
- Wharton Teaching Excellence Award, The Wharton School, 2018-2020, 2018-2020
- Excellence in Teaching Award, WEMBA San Francisco, 2017
- William G. Whitney Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Affiliated Faculty, 2016
- William G. Whitney Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Affiliated Faculty, 2015
- William G. Whitney Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Affiliated Faculty, 2013
- Excellence in Teaching Award, Full-time MBA Program, 2013
- Excellence in Teaching Award, Full-time MBA Program, 2012
- William G. Whitney Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Affiliated Faculty, 2012
- Excellence in Teaching Award, WEMBA San Francisco, 2011
- Excellence in Teaching Award, Full-time MBA Program, 2010
- Excellence in Teaching Award, WEMBA San Francisco, 2009
- Excellence in Teaching Award, Full-time MBA Program, 2006
- Excellence in Teaching Award, WEMBA San Francisco, 2004
- Trefftzs Award, Western Finance Association, 2000
Education
- Phd University of California, Los Angeles (1995 — 2000)
Companies
- Professor The Wharton School (2003)
- Consultant and Advisor McKinsey & Company (1992 — 2020)
- Assistant Professor Emory University - Goizueta Business School (2000 — 2003)
- Technology Analyst HarbourVest Partners (1994 — 1995)
Videos
David Wessels on How to Get a Permission-Less Apprenticeship and Training
Growth Through Acquisitions | Wharton Scale School
Venture Capital Program: Common Pitfalls
David Wessels on Staying a Humble Student of the Game is Important
David Wessels on Finding Your Career Path
Wessels over the moon with Coleman commitment
Courses Taught
The CFO: Becoming a Strategic Partner
The Wharton School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
May 19, 2025
Venture Capital
The Wharton School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Mar 23, 2025
Scaling Business for Profitable Growth
The Wharton School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2, 2025
Advancing Business Acumen
The Wharton School
Online
Mergers and Acquisitions
The Wharton School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Jan 19, 2025
Advanced Management Program
The Wharton School
Online
Corporate Valuation
The Wharton School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Jan 27, 2025
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