Columbia finance lecturer Eleni Vrana highlights teaching, mentoring and service

Eleni Vrana, a Lecturer at Columbia University in New York, is using decades of corporate and academic finance experience to teach graduate students and mentor others. Her work also includes volunteering, a forthcoming book on women’s success, and a focus on helping students and young professionals build confidence and career skills.

Why it matters: - Eleni Vrana is shaping the next generation of finance professionals through teaching, mentoring and service. - Her career spans corporate finance, university leadership and classroom instruction, giving her a practical perspective on how finance works in the real world. - Her work reflects a broader push to connect technical finance training with leadership, communication and professional growth.

What happened: - Vrana teaches corporate finance at Columbia University in the City of New York’s School of Professional Studies. - She brings more than a decade of teaching experience to the role. - Vrana is currently focused primarily on teaching and volunteering. - She volunteers with Read Ahead, which helps elementary school students build a love of reading. - She has also 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. - At Sotheby’s, she held multiple leadership roles and helped manage financial operations tied to major auctions. - She worked as one of the account managers overseeing financial activities for high-value transactions. - Vrana later joined Columbia University’s Finance Department and spent 16 years in various leadership roles. - During much of that time, she also taught at Columbia, balancing both roles for nearly a decade. - Her academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of San Francisco. - She also earned an M.B.A. from George Washington University and 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 intended to encourage women to believe in their abilities and see education and career as compatible with family life.

Between the lines: - Vrana’s career path shows a mix of practice and teaching that can make finance instruction more grounded and career-relevant. - Her emphasis on faith, family, generosity and service shapes how she presents success and leadership. - Her experience as an international student appears to inform her interest in mentoring and guidance. - The profile positions mentorship not as an add-on, but as a central part of Vrana’s professional identity.

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 confidence. - Her upcoming book will extend her message beyond the classroom and into a wider audience.

The bottom line: - Eleni Vrana is pairing finance expertise with mentorship to influence students far beyond the classroom.