Eleni Vrana

Eleni Vrana is a Category Manager in the Finance Department and a Lecturer at Columbia University in the City of New York, where she teaches a graduate-level corporate finance course at the School of Professional Studies. She is currently focused primarily on teaching, a role she has held for over a decade, and finds it deeply rewarding to guide students from foundational concepts to strong proficiency in corporate finance. Her work in the classroom emphasizes clarity, applied understanding, and student growth in a subject she considers both her academic and professional passion.

Before her current academic focus, Eleni built a long and distinguished career in both finance and higher education administration. She spent 11 years at Sotheby’s in New York City, serving in multiple leadership roles, including as one of the account managers responsible for overseeing financial operations for major auctions. She later joined Columbia University’s Finance Department, where she worked for 16 years in various leadership positions while also teaching part-time, further strengthening her expertise in academic and institutional finance.

Eleni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco, an MBA from The George Washington University, and a Master’s Business Certificate in Finance and Management from Columbia University. Her academic background, combined with extensive real-world financial leadership experience, ultimately led her into teaching. Beyond her professional work, she is also involved in volunteer activities and co-developing a forthcoming book focused on women’s success and well-being, reflecting her commitment to mentorship, personal growth, and empowering others.

• The George Washington University - MBA

• Read Ahead - tutoring third grader via Zoom