MY EDUCATION

PhD in Finance, University of Rhode Island

I grew up in the Midwest (Missouri, Kansas, and Michigan) but I went out East to pursue my PhD.  People ask me "why Rhode Island?"  Its PhD program placed some emphasis on the capital markets of East and Southeast Asia.  Being of Asian descent, I was naturally interested in that emphasis.  While there, I studied market microstructure and corporate finance.  I realize this is an odd mix.  I also focused on Japanese financial markets. 

In my PhD dissertation, I looked at how external governance (i.e., regulation) and internal governance (i.e., ownership structure) interacted with each other across time.  The relation is complex.  But I argued and showed that regulation was constraining optimal corporate behavior.  It's a pretty simple view.  I have since evolved.

People ask me why I did my PhD.  That's a long story.  But if you are thinking about doing a PhD in finance, then you should click here. 

People also ask me "why finance?"  That too is a long story.  But it's probably no coincidence that my father is also a finance person.           

MBA, University of Detroit

I didn't know what I wanted to do after college, so like many people in that same situation, I enrolled in an MBA program (and I enrolled in the most convenient one for me at the time).  While in the MBA program, I focused on my writing and communication skills.  My people will tell you these skills are the most important ones to have in the business world.  I didn't concentrate in finance.  I knew there was a very good chance I would spend the rest of my life in finance, so it didn't make sense to me to spend every educational opportunity studying finance. 

BA in Economics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

I did my undergrad during the 1980s.  I can't believe it.  It seems like only yesterday I was a freshman.  Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and knock some sense into the younger version of myself.  But I digress.

While at Michigan, I majored in economics.  Within economics, I specialized in regulatory economics and industrial organization.  I still study these topics today.