Foster Finance Faculty Spotlight – Doron Levit
Get to know Doron Levit, Professor of Business Economics and Marion B. Ingersoll Professor of Finance at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, who teaches the elective course Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A).
Please tell us a bit about your background.
I was born and raised in Israel, served four years in the military, studied computer science and economics in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and then earned a PhD in Finance at Stanford GSB. I spent 10 years at Wharton. I’m married to Sivan and have three boys, aged 14, 12, and 8. I like to cook and garden!
What excites you about your subject area and what are some of your research interests?
I study corporate governance, broadly defined. More recently, I’m interested in the effects that corporations have on society beyond their profitability. There are great opportunities and challenges in this area, which could have a major impact on the world we live in!
Which factors influenced your decision to join UW Foster?
The quality of faculty; my colleagues, is very impressive!
How is your teaching influenced by instructional best practices? How do you maximize learning and keep students engaged?
There is almost always something related in the news, a pending deal, a deal that falls apart, new mergers and acquisitions (M&A) regulations, etc. I frequently bring those events to my class for discussion (and encourage students to bring their own observations). It’s fun, it’s relevant, and super interesting to hear everyone’s views about these events.
How will students apply the knowledge and skills they gain in your classroom in their careers?
My class introduces students to the world of M&A from a financial perspective. If you are going to practice M&A directly, it will give you a conceptual understanding of common methodologies and relevant institutions. But even if you are not going to practice M&A, the class is designed to give you tools to think critically about M&A and have a good understanding of how these large deals are designed and the impact they could have on firms involved, the industry, and society at large.
Any tips for incoming MBAs on how they can brush up on skills/knowledge prior to your course?
Valuation (of securities, projects, firms) is a basic skill that has numerous applications in the financial system. Having a strong background will allow students to focus their energy on the understanding of more nuanced and deeper concepts.
