Intensive Private Equity Practicum

Catalog description

This course is a hands-on, practitioner-led introduction to Private Equity (PE) as an active ownership model. It integrates strategy, management, entrepreneurship, transactions, and operations to mirror how PE decisions are made in practice. Students work through the full PE lifecycle, from deal structuring and valuation to acquisition, value creation, and exit. The course emphasizes real-world ambiguity, judgment under uncertainty, and rigorous Investment Committee–style debate. Through cases, group work, and live discussions, students act as PE professionals, developing and defending investment theses, deal structures and value creation approaches. Special attention is given to small and mid-market dynamics, buy-and-builds, carve-outs, turnarounds, and working with management and founders. The program is best suited for students who are critical and strategic thinkers, are active contributors in class, and seriously consider a career in PE.