Mike Harmon
Bio
Harmon is the managing partner of Gaviota Advisors, LLC, in Manhattan Beach, CA, where he advises and invests in small- to medium-sized companies. Prior to that, he spent 21 years as an investment professional in the special situations and global principal groups at Oaktree Capital Management in Los Angeles. There he executed private equity and special situations transactions involving over 50 companies. Over the course of his career, Harmon has served as a member of the board of directors for 20 organizations in a broad range of industries and causes. He has also served as a guest lecturer at Stanford GSB, Stanford Law School, Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, Boston College, and Southern Methodist University in the areas of corporate restructuring, private equity, and negotiation. He holds an MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School and a BA, with distinction, in economics from McGill University.
Academic Degrees
- MBA with Distinction, Harvard Business School, 1997
- BA in Economics with Distinction, McGill University, 1991
Academic Appointments
- Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2021
- Executive Fellow, Harvard Business School, 2023–present
Awards and Honors
- MBA Class of 1978 Lecturer for 2025–26
- MBA Distinguished Teaching Award, Stanford GSB, 2025
Service to the Profession
- Board Member, KCRW Radio, 2018–2025
- Board Member, Surfrider Foundation, 2010–2015
Professional Experience
- Managing Partner, Gaviota Advisors, LLC, 2018–present
- Managing Director, Oaktree Capital Management, 1996–2018
- Senior Consultant, Price Waterhouse, 1992–95
- Analyst, Society Corporation, 1991–92