In Memoriam: Roman L. Weil: 1940–2023
The accomplished Booth professor had a lifelong passion for teaching financial literacy and accounting practices to students of all ages.
In Memoriam: Roman L. Weil: 1940–2023Alumni Stories Prepared to Seize Success
Meet David Han, ’02
David Han always wanted to go into business for himself. His Booth education helped prepare him to seize the unique opportunity of building a specialty private equity firm in Shanghai in collaboration with fellow Booth alumni.
- March 28, 2017
- Private Equity
David Han: 00:05
Each and every business, no matter how successful or how big it has become, it's just very fragile and just one small ship in the vast ocean. So you have to always be prepared to adapt to new changes in the environment. My ultimate goal in the investment business was that, I always, I wanted to set up my own shop, to do my own business instead of just working for some other people. And that's why, after working in the private equity industry for so many years, and I decided to work with my fellow Chicago alumni to set up our own PE shop, and that's why we're here today.
David Han: 01: 29
Constant learning is very important. Around the world, there are not a lot of sports specialty private equity firms, but why have it in China and why we believe this firm can succeed in the long term is because we think this is so we have a unique industry opportunity in China and we as Yao Capital, as a team, we are the best prepared to capture this opportunity. Every step of the way we can find resources, help from one way or the other from the student community. I think Yao Capital is a prime example of the teamwork that the Booth community can present.
David Han knew that one day he wanted to set up his own private equity shop. He knew he needed an MBA to achieve that vision.
At 32, he moved to Chicago to earn his MBA in Booth's Full-Time MBA Program. David’s gamble paid off. After establishing a stellar investment track record at some of the world’s largest PE firms, David cofounded the Shanghai-based global sports private equity firm Yao Capital with NBA Hall of Famer Yao Ming. Capitalizing on China’s booming sports market, David leads the $300 million firm’s investment strategy.
“Going to Booth was the best decision I made in my life,” David says. “Without the Booth education, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
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