Mike Harmon

Teaching Statement

Mike Harmon lectures on Financial Restructuring, Bankruptcy, Private Equity, Distressed Investing, and Negotiations. Along with Claudia Robles-Garcia, he teaches FINANCE 333 — Financial Restructuring.

Bio

Mike Harmon is the managing partner of Gaviota Advisors, LLC, in Manhattan Beach, CA, where he advises and invests in small to medium sized companies. Prior to that, he spent 21 years as an investment professional in the Special Situations and Global Principal Groups at Oaktree Capital Management in Los Angeles. There he executed private equity and special situations transactions involving over 50 companies. Prior to that, Harmon held positions with CS First Boston, Price Waterhouse, and Society Corporation. Over the course of his career, Harmon has served as a member of the board of directors for 20 organizations in a broad range of industries and causes. He currently serves as a board member for KCRW Radio, a non-profit media organization based in Santa Monica. He has also served as a guest lecturer at Stanford GSB and Harvard Business School in the areas of corporate restructuring, private equity, and negotiation. He holds an MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School and a BA, with distinction, in economics from McGill University.

Academic Degrees

• MBA with Distinction, Harvard Business School, 1997
• BA in Economics with Distinction, McGill University, 1991

Academic Appointments

• Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2021
• Guest Lecturer, Harvard Business School, 2018–present

Professional Experience

• Managing Partner, Gaviota Advisors, LLC, 2018–present
• Managing Director, Oaktree Capital Management, 1996–2018
• Senior Consultant, Price Waterhouse, 1992–1995
• Analyst, Society Corporation, 1991–1992