Prof. Francesco Celentano tells us more about his youth, studies, interests and current research in the interview below.

Where did you grow up?
I spent the first 25 years of my life in Napoli, Italy. 

What were your hobbies as a child? 
I loved playing soccer and basketball with my friends. 

What languages do you speak?
Italian and English (both fluently), French (basic).

Where did you go to University?
University of Naples Federico II and University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Where did you do your PhD?
University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Who were your PhD Advisors?
My PhD advisors were Antonio Mello, Oliver Levine, Dean Corbae and Erwan Quintin.  

What is your main research focus?
My main research interests lie in corporate finance and corporate governance.  

What research are you working on right now that you are really excited about and why?
I am currently working on a project trying to understand the impact of the rising intangibility of US businesses on the propensity of firms to go publicly listed on major stock exchanges. I am really excited about this area of research because I believe that the changing nature of the economy and the way in which businesses are conducted is drastically changing both the financing needs of firms and the structure of financial markets. 

What do you do in your spare time?
I love jogging and watching  soccer matches of my team, SSC Napoli.  

What is your favorite holiday destination?
There is no place like home, so Napoli.  

What is your favorite quote?
"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end".