Columbia finance lecturer Eleni Vrana blends teaching, mentoring and leadership

Eleni Vrana, a Columbia University lecturer in New York, is using decades of finance and academic experience to teach corporate finance and mentor students. Her work spans classroom instruction, volunteer service and a planned book on women’s success and balance.

Why it matters: - Eleni Vrana is helping train future finance professionals at Columbia University while also mentoring students and volunteering in her community. - Her career combines corporate finance, university administration and teaching, giving her a practical perspective on business decision-making. - Vrana’s work highlights how finance education can connect technical skills with leadership, service and student development.

What happened: - Vrana serves as a lecturer at Columbia University in the City of New York’s School of Professional Studies. - She has more than a decade of teaching experience and guides graduate students in corporate finance. - Her current focus is teaching and volunteering. - She volunteers with Read Ahead, which helps elementary school students build a love of reading. - She has applied to mentor international students in George Washington University’s MBA program.

The details: - Vrana spent 11 years at Sotheby’s in New York City in leadership roles tied to financial operations. - She worked as one of the account managers overseeing financial activity for major auctions. - Her Sotheby’s role included managing complex financial processes, coordinating operations and supporting high-value transactions. - Vrana later joined Columbia University’s Finance Department and spent 16 years in various leadership positions. - During much of that time, she also taught at Columbia, balancing administration and classroom work for nearly a decade. - She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of San Francisco. - She earned an MBA from George Washington University. - She also holds a Master’s Business Certificate in Finance and Management from Columbia University. - Vrana is preparing to publish a co-authored book about women’s success and happiness. - The book focuses on balancing family, work, personal growth and purpose. - Vrana says the book is meant to encourage women to believe in their abilities, pursue education and see that family and career can coexist with determination and support.

Between the lines: - Vrana’s career path shows a shift from high-touch corporate finance to education and mentorship. - Her international student background appears to shape her emphasis on perseverance, guidance and opportunity. - Her public message centers on faith, family, generosity and service, which frames her professional work as part of a broader mission. - She describes passion as a driver of purpose and says work is most meaningful when it aligns with what someone loves.

What's next: - Vrana plans to keep teaching, volunteering and mentoring. - She wants to help students, women and young professionals recognize their potential and pursue goals with courage. - Her book project adds another channel for extending her message beyond the classroom. - She expects to continue giving back through Columbia, mentorship and community service.

The bottom line: - Vrana is building a career that pairs finance expertise with teaching and service, aimed at opening doors for the next generation of leaders. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile and her Columbia University School of Professional Studies profile.