Private Equity (Online)
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Unlock Winning Investment Strategies — From Deal Sourcing to Profitable Exits
The private equity landscape is undergoing a profound transformation shaped by economic, political, and technological forces. The Private Equity (Online) program from Columbia Business School Executive Education is designed for private equity professionals looking to navigate this complexity with agility and foresight. This online program offers firsthand experience in evaluating investments, creating value in portfolio companies, and navigating exit strategies. You will learn how to make better investment decisions, manage costs, and leverage data-led insights to maximize returns. You will also benefit from the expertise of Columbia Business School faculty as well as gain real-world insights through case studies, hands-on activities, and a global peer group.
US$1.15 tn
59%
Key Takeaways
The Private Equity (Online) program will enable you to:
Identify what makes good investments
Examine your private equity investor's toolbox and use it to evaluate potential investments
Analyze the various financial, operational, and governance strategies that optimize value creation within a portfolio organization
Evaluate cost management and revenue growth strategies in portfolio companies to enhance profitability
Explain how and why private equity investors approach value creation differently from corporations
Evaluate the exit strategy for a private equity deal and design a defensible value creation plan (VCP) to sustain long-term growth in a portfolio organization
Apply artificial intelligence (AI) tools in value creation
Who Should Attend?
This program is designed for finance professionals looking to acquire private equity insights and tools to optimize financial operations and make data-driven private equity decisions. They can include mid-career corporate finance professionals as well as mid-level to senior private equity professionals.
This program is particularly beneficial for:
Professionals from corporate finance, strategy, legal, investment banking, or consulting roles who are seeking to transition into private equity or are keen to sharpen their deal execution capabilities
Investors aiming to simulate the full private equity (PE) life cycle — from deal evaluation and acquisition to value creation and exit strategy
Family office leaders, independent sponsors, and search fund operators looking to build or refine a scalable investment framework
Entrepreneurs and founders preparing for a capital raise or reinvestment
Investors in innovation-driven sectors, capital markets professionals, or business leaders looking to apply AI, analytics, or transformation tools in PE-backed or acquisition-driven environments
Board members, compliance executives, and public-sector finance professionals who evaluate or oversee PE-related investment decisions
Learners who are financially fluent and ready to apply strategic tools in real-world private equity scenarios
Participants should have a basic knowledge of business and financial concepts, including revenue, EBITDA, margins, and cost levers.
Program Modules
Learn to identify and apply core tools used by private equity professionals when evaluating investment opportunities
Understand the key value creation levers in PE and how they are influenced by the fund model
Explore practical examples of how PE firms drive returns through operational, financial, and strategic improvements
Discover how AI can support value creation and decision making within the PE context
Build and articulate a basic value creation plan with simplified return analysis
Understand how to select the right financial structure for a PE deal based on the strategy and risk profile
Design governance frameworks aligned with value creation goals and stakeholder incentives
Learn to navigate real-world complexities in financial engineering and board oversight
Estimate the impact of working capital, personnel, and process improvements on cash flow and EBITDA
Evaluate cost-saving initiatives within the unique operational and financial constraints of PE-backed businesses
Understand how each efficiency lever contributes to the overall value bridge in a PE investment
Design a realistic cost optimization plan tailored to the conditions of a portfolio company
Distinguish between organic and inorganic revenue growth strategies and understand when to apply each
Learn how PE constraints shape the feasibility and timing of growth initiatives
Assess potential risks in growth strategies and use AI tools to brainstorm and validate ideas
Identify and align the internal or external experts needed to execute specific value creation plans
Analyze the risks of PE deals by calculating and interpreting key debt ratios and covenants
Understand common triggers for leadership turnover and performance deterioration in PE-backed firms
Explore financial restructuring tactics and operational interventions to stabilize or recover value
Use AI to brainstorm and evaluate downside risks and design trade-offs during economic stress or portfolio underperformance
Quantify how much of a deal’s return comes from multiple expansion vs. operational gains
Learn to analyze value bridge deviations and their effect on target returns
Evaluate and compare PE exit strategies, including secondary sales, IPOs, and strategic exits
Develop a full-cycle value creation plan and exit thesis for a simulated PE investment
Capstone Project
The capstone project in this program serves as a key opportunity to transform your theoretical knowledge into a compelling and actionable private equity framework. This project enables you to think critically, apply strategic reasoning, and demonstrate your ability to design and optimize private equity investments — from acquisition to successful realization.
This comprehensive project requires you to step into the shoes of a PE investor, applying program insights to a realistic scenario. Your primary objective is to:
Design a compelling value creation plan and formulate a well-reasoned exit strategy for a PE-backed organization
Analyze opportunities to design sophisticated financial, operational, and governance strategies that drive growth and enhance profitability
Leverage PE-specific tools and strategic thinking to craft a resilient plan for long-term success
Program Faculty
David L. and Elsie M. Dodd Professor of Finance, Columbia Business School; Co-Director, Private Equity (Online)
Certificate
Upon completion of the Private Equity (Online) program, you will receive a certificate of participation from Columbia Business School Executive Education. This certificate also awards two credits toward the Certificate in Business Excellence, which grants select alumni and tuition benefits. Learn more.
Your digitally verified certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, including all modules of the program (online, in person, live online, or inter-module). All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.
Valuation and Value Creation (Online)
FAQs
How do I know if this program is right for me?
After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.
Are there any prerequisites for this program?
Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.
Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.
What is the typical class profile?
More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.
What other dates will this program be offered in the future?
Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.
How much time is required each week?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
How will my time be spent?
We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:
Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
Completing your final project, if required
The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.
What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.
All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.
A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
How do I interact with other program participants?
Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.
What are the requirements to earn the certificate?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.
This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.
What type of certificate will I receive?
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile. The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.
Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?
No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.
How long will I have access to the learning materials?
You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?
Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.
Do I need to be online to access the program content?
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.
Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?
Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.
What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?
The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.
Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to PROGRAM FEE.
Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.
What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?
Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.
I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?
Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.
How can I obtain an invoice for payment?
Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.
Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?
Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.
How can I obtain a W9 form?
Please connect with us via email for assistance.
Who will be collecting the payment for the program?
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the program?
Program fees for Emeritus programs with Columbia Business School Executive Education may not be paid for with Title IV financial aid funds. Participants may be able to pay the program fee with funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits. Participants must contact the Columbia University’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs to determine benefit eligibility.
What is the program refund and deferral policy?
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
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Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Program Advisors or call us at +1 315 387 4431 (US) / +44 203 838 0836 (UK) / +65 3138 4449 (SG)
Flexible payment options available.
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