In a new virtual summer program, Wharton professors and faculty are offering business executives advice on navigating the current economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Wharton On Series, which includes two separate online programs, began on June 15 and will run for six weeks. Wharton on the Markets and Wharton on Financial Management feature a rotating lineup of Wharton Finance faculty, and cost $950 per participant.
In each program, a live one-hour video session occurs twice a week, followed by a facilitated question-and-answer discussion.
“The goal has been to rally the resources of the [Wharton] school to try and help executives through these difficult times,” Wharton Finance professor Michael Roberts said. “Share our knowledge, our information, with business executives so they can make better decision in these tough times.”
Roberts, head of the Wharton on Financial Management program, said he hopes the program will provide anybody responsible for making business decisions with relevant information on prominent financial topics.
“Our goal is to try and help people to understand what’s happening now, both at a micro and a macro level, and convert that information and understanding into actionable items, or actions that they can undertake to do their job better to simply make better decisions, at least from a financial perspective,” Roberts said.
The Wharton on the Markets program is headed by Wharton Finance department chair Joao Gomes and Finance professor Nikolai Roussanov. According to the June 8 Wharton News release, the program was created with the intent of educating investors in various financial markets on the economic situation, as well as on how to prepare for an inconsistent market for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Roberts said both of the programs are solely intended to help support executives in making challenging business decisions amid both the coronavirus and economic crises.
Those who are encouraged to attend the Wharton on the Markets program include professional investors, pension and bond plan managers, and financial advisors, analysts, and consultants.
Wharton on Financial Management is recommended for those with job titles of CEO, CFO, president, business development executive, privately owned business leaders, and other corporate finance leadership positions.
“This is less about me, and much more about my colleagues and I coming together to put together something we think will be helpful and constructive for executives," Roberts said.
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