Randolph B. Cohen

Randolph B. (Randy) Cohen is the MBA Class of 1975 Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurial Management in the Finance Unit at Harvard Business School. Cohen’s main research focus has been the identification of top investment managers and the prediction of manager performance. Cohen has studied the differential reactions of institutions and individuals to news about firms and the economy, as well as the effect of institutional trading on stock prices. He also writes and speaks about municipal securities, ESG investing, and many other topics. Cohen has a strong interest in liquid alternative investments and for over two decades has been working to develop the concept of liquid private equity.

Cohen teaches two classes, Field X and Field Y, which help students launch and grow businesses while at HBS (and other parts of Harvard and surrounding universities). He also co-teaches the Alternative Investments course for HBS Online.

In addition to his research and teaching, Cohen has helped to start and grow several investment management firms, while also acting as a consultant to many others. Randy serves on the Board of the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired; on his podcast Dangerous Vision he interviews fascinating people who are in some way connected to the world of vision loss.

Cohen holds an AB in mathematics from Harvard College and a PhD in finance and economics from the University of Chicago.