Connections: 'The Value of a Varied Career' with Mike Abbott

Michael Abbott is the Executive Chairman of Columbia Care, the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer of cannabis related medicines in the United States. Michael started his financial career at Swiss Bank Corporation/SBC O’Connor and later worked at Goldman Sachs. He since launched and ran two hedge funds as well as managed a multi-billion dollar fund of funds. Michael was also CIO of the endowment of Cornell University.

As developed economies around the world prepare for a recession, many students will be wondering about their future career path and how they will achieve their ambitions. In this session Michael Abbot will reflect on his own career and offer some insight about the value of variety in professional life, and also what skills and experiences might be most valuable for students to engage with now. Michael started as Policeman in London, graduated in Law, moved to New York to work in Investment Banking spending seven years with Goldman Sachs, and is now Executive Chairman of Columbia Care – one of the world’s largest medical marijuana companies. As Michael will discuss, the route to one’s ambitions is rarely a linear or straightforward path; and that variety in a career can open up new and unexpected opportunities. As a passionate advocate of the value of internships, Michael will also explore ways in which students can build the experience, skills and confidence to flourish in challenging circumstances.