Faculty Snapshot: Emmanuel Yimfor
Tell us about your work.
My research centers on entrepreneurial finance and diversity in private capital markets, examining racial and gender gaps in venture capital funding, board representation, and private equity fundraising. Published in top journals including the Journal of Finance and Management Science, my work spans from Black founder funding patterns to university alumni networks in VC deals. My teaching experience reflects this expertise. While currently teaching Corporate Finance Valuation at Columbia Business School, I have extensive experience in private equity and venture capital courses, and will return to teaching private equity in fall 2025.
What are you looking forward to right now? What are you most excited about?
I am looking forward to two key things right now. First, I'm training for a marathon in March, which represents a significant personal challenge and goal. Second, on the professional front, I'm excited about seeing my research make a real-world impact as it gets published. My work on diversity in private capital markets and entrepreneurial finance provides new empirical evidence about how these markets function and identifies important patterns in funding allocation and returns, which can help inform both industry practices and policy decisions.
Tell us about a book that you have read recently and would recommend.
I recently read "Gray Areas" by Adia Harvey Wingfield. The book resonated with me through its thoughtful examination of professional experiences in academia and other institutional settings. Wingfield provides an insightful analysis of workplace dynamics and organizational culture, and I found myself reflecting on my own career journey while reading it. What particularly struck me was how effectively she articulated certain workplace experiences and interactions that I had observed but hadn't previously seen captured in so clearly.
What advice might you have for a potential mentee about how to succeed in academia?
My key advice for potential mentees about succeeding in academia centers on understanding the importance of advisor matching. Think hard about finding an advisor who genuinely believes in your potential and research interests, rather than solely focusing on reputation or publication count. An engaged assistant professor who can work closely with you and is invested in your development might be a much better match than a well-known senior professor juggling numerous commitments. This alignment shows up clearly in recommendation letters and overall career development, but it's something many students overlook when making these crucial early career decisions.
Are you currently looking for collaborators? If so, what types of collaborations are you seeking?
I'm always open to meaningful research collaborations, particularly with scholars interested in entrepreneurial finance and diversity in private capital markets. I'm currently seeking research assistance and funding opportunities to help advance several promising projects in my pipeline. Additional resources would help accelerate this work. I'm especially interested in connecting with researchers and research assistants who share my interest in empirically studying private markets and are committed to producing rigorous, high-quality work.
What is a self-care practice that works for you?
Running has become my primary form of self-care. It's both meditation and physical exercise for me. Whether I'm training for my upcoming marathon or just going for a daily run, it gives me time to clear my head and process my thoughts. The combination of physical movement and mental space has become an essential part of my routine.
What have you been listening to lately? Can you recommend a podcast, album, or artist?
I really enjoy listening to Hidden Brain on Spotify. The podcast's blend of scientific research and storytelling helps me think about human behavior and decision-making in new ways. I particularly appreciate how Shankar Vedantam breaks down complex social science concepts and research findings into engaging narratives that show why we behave the way we do. It's a great companion during my training runs, as it keeps my mind engaged while offering insights that sometimes connect back to my own research on human behavior in financial markets.
To learn more about Dr. Yimfor's work, please visit his website.