Derny P. Fleurima `26

Derny Fleurima serves as Co-Vice President of Off-Campus Events for the Private Equity Club and Vice President of Sponsorships for the Black Business Students Association at Columbia Business School (Class of 2026), where he focuses on Private Equity and value creation.

He has worked with GTO Partners, a software-focused private equity firm, and SFW Capital Partners, a middle-market investor in industrial and analytical technology businesses. Before business school, Derny worked in Leveraged Finance at Morgan Stanley and at HPD, a publicly funded $1.5 billion investment vehicle dedicated to affordable housing and community development.

Beyond school, he is focused on sourcing and evaluating new lower-middle-market investment opportunities across industrial technology and business services.

Connect with Derny P. Fleurima on Linkedin.

Entering Columbia Business School without a pure-play private equity background, I was determined to immerse myself fully in the field. Prior to CBS...... At Columbia, I pursued a rigorous academic path in private equity—taking Private Equity Finance and Private Equity Value Creation with Professor Michael Ewens—and actively sought opportunities to contribute to and learn from the CBS community.

During my first year, I served as AVP of Careers for the Private Equity Club, helping students identify and prepare for opportunities in the industry. I also volunteered for the Columbia Private Equity Conference, gaining valuable exposure to leading investors and alumni. Beyond campus, I attended major national conferences at Chicago Booth and Wharton to deepen my understanding of the space.

Now in my second year, I continue to advance CBS’s private equity ecosystem as a Teaching Assistant for Private Equity Finance with Professors Yimfor and Rehman, and as Co-VP of Off-Campus Events for the Private Equity Club, where I organize firm visits and student engagement opportunities with leading private equity funds. I am also taking the Private Equity Field Study course and interning simultaneously with GTO Partners and SFW Capital Partners, further bridging classroom learning with real-world investing experience.