Global Business Education Leader & Economist; Dean at Kellogg School of Management; Authority on Finance & Corporate Governance

Evanston, IL, USA
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Francesca Cornelli Biography

Francesca Cornelli is an economist and a leader in global business education, serving as dean of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where she holds the Donald P. Jacobs Chair of Finance and a professorship in finance. Cornelli earned a Bachelor of Economics, summa cum laude, from Università Commerciale Bocconi in Milan, and completed a master's degree and Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University. Trained as an economist and game theorist, she transitioned to teaching finance, shaping an academic career that spans multiple continents.

Prior to joining Kellogg, Cornelli was professor of finance, director of private equity, and deputy dean of degree education at London Business School, where she was the first woman to hold a full professorship. She directed the Private Equity Institute at London Business School, fostering collaboration between academia and the private equity sector by partnering with industry leaders, alumni, and academics. Cornelli has international teaching experience at institutions including London School of Economics, Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, New Economic School in Moscow, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

At Kellogg, Cornelli has focused on preparing leaders to operate at the intersection of business, science, and technology. She led the creation of the MBAi Program, a joint degree with Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering, and expanded programming in healthcare, sustainability, and private equity.

Cornelli's research covers corporate governance, private equity, privatization, bankruptcy, initial public offerings, and innovation policy. She has published in major finance and economics journals and served as editor of the "Review of Financial Studies." She has also served on the board of editors of the "Review of Economic Studies" and as associate editor at the "Journal of Finance." Cornelli is a research fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and has served as a director of the American Finance Association.

Cornelli co-created the Academic Female Finance Committee (AFFECT), established by the American Finance Association to encourage greater participation of women in financial research. She serves on several boards, including GCM Grosvenor Inc., Ryan Specialty Holdings Inc., and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Her career reflects intellectual rigor, institutional leadership, and a commitment to diversity in finance, positioning her as an authoritative voice in business education and global markets.

BOOK Francesca Cornelli

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/21/2026.

Francesca Cornelli Videos

Dean Cornelli Discusses Career Journeys with Penny Pennington '12 MBA

Dean Cornelli Discusses Career Journeys with Penny Pennington '12 MBA

Do you put a limit on your capabilities? A lot of times we do it without even realizing. Penny Pennington ’12 MBA, managing partner at Edward...

  • How do I book Francesca Cornelli to speak at my event?

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  • What topics does Francesca Cornelli speak about?

    Francesca Cornelli is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business, Business Leadership, College, Economy, Education, Female Leadership, Finance, Leadership, Professors, Women
  • Where does Francesca Cornelli travel from?

    Francesca Cornelli generally travels from Evanston, IL, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Francesca Cornelli is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Francesca Cornelli for your event is available upon request. Francesca Cornelli generally travels from Evanston, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Geeta Menon, Thasunda Duckett, Sally Blount, Jacqueline Novogratz and Tonya M. Evans. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Francesca Cornelli for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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