September's Mentor of the Month: George Van Amson CC'74

Congratulations to George Van Amson CC'74, as September 2019 Mentor of the Month. Van Amson studied Economics during his time at Columbia and then went on to receive his MBA from Harvard Business School. He is now a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. He participated in the Odyssey Summer Match program and has mentored four students.

Interview with George Van Amson CC'74

Tell us about your Summer Match mentor experience. How many students have are you mentoring?

I was delighted to participate in Odyssey Mentoring’s Summer Match Program. So far I’ve had four protégés, and they each were terrific young people to advise and counsel.

What have you gained from being a mentor?

Through this program and mentoring in general I am able to stay close to the excitement and challenges of our younger generation.

What advice you would give a student looking for a mentor or a student who might be curious if a mentor is for them?

I would advise students to be bold and reach out. The common bond is Columbia. Everyone can benefit from a mentor. Even at my vintage and seniority I have mentors.

---

About the Odyssey Mentoring Program

The Odyssey Mentoring Program (OMP) was founded on the belief that Columbia College students and alumni want to support one another, share stories and encourage one another’s success, thus creating a strong and tight-knit community. The College has more than 50,000 alumni working in myriad careers and around the country. OMP makes it possible for community members to connect in a variety of ways, from an email exchange to in-person meetings and small group gatherings.