David Wessels

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)