Dr. Richard Ruback

Professor

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Biography

Richard S. Ruback is the Baker Foundation Professor at Harvard Business School, specializing in applied corporate finance with a focus on corporate control transactions and valuation. His research has produced significant case studies on major transactions, including the RJR Nabisco leveraged buyout. Alongside Royce Yudkoff, he authored the HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business, which serves as a practical roadmap for acquiring smaller firms. Ruback has taught a variety of corporate finance courses throughout his career and has been instrumental in developing a new course titled “The Financial Management of Smaller Firms.” He joined the faculty at Harvard Business School in 1987 after serving as a visiting professor at MIT's Sloan School. Appointed as an associate professor in 1988, he became a full professor in 1989. Ruback has also served as a consultant and expert witness on corporate finance issues, providing advice to various corporations and directors. He has published numerous articles in leading finance journals and served as an editor for the Journal of Financial Economics. Ruback earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Rochester in 1980.

Research Interests

Requirements for Harvard Business School

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GMAT
GRE General
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Overall
Required:7.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Strong quantitative and analytical background
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Writing Sample (Optional/Recommended)
Specialization Notes

The PhD in Business Administration is the primary doctoral degree encompassing various areas of study including Business Economics, Accounting, and Strategy.