Breaking into Finance: A Real-World Guide for Students and Future Leaders (technical and behavioral tips: lessons learned from a 15-year journey in Wall Street & City of London) - Part 2/5: Why Finace / Main Career Paths / Cultural Differences
Table of Contents
- Why Did You Choose a Career in Finance?
- What Are the Best Parts of Starting Your Career in Finance?
- What Are the Main Career Paths in Finance? – IB, AM, PE/VC, impact investing, etc.
- What Part of the Job Do You Enjoy the Most?
- What Makes Someone Stand Out in Finance as an Analyst?
- How Are Work Cultures Different Across Major Financial Hubs? – comparative table of NYC, London, Asia, Europe, Middle East
- What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self at 21?
1. Why Did You Choose a Career in Finance?
Key Points:
- 🌍 Mission-Driven Calling: I was drawn to finance with a mission in mind. It was a platform to help change the world from within—and a way to shift the system at scale. That said, idealism alone won’t get you far. Over time, I focused on value creation, performance, and delivering outcomes—not just “a good cause.”
- 📊 Intellectual Curiosity: Finance weaves together macroeconomics, geopolitics, psychology, and human behavior. It’s a living lab for understanding how the world works—and why decisions are made the way they are.
- ✨ Impact at Scale: Sustainable and impact investing allow capital to shape long-term systems—from energy transition to inclusive growth. It’s real leverage when done with clarity and accountability.
📌 Pro Tip:
“Finance is a language of power. Learn it to redesign the story.”
🎯 From the Field:
I didn’t come to finance because I thought it was glamorous.
I came because it was hard, powerful, and system-shaping.
2. What Are the Best Parts of Starting Your Career in Finance?
Key Highlights:
- ⚡️ Steep Learning Curve: You’ll be challenged and stretched from day one. The pace is fast, and the expectations are high—but growth happens quickly.
- 🌐 Global Exposure: Finance opens doors to global systems, cross-border thinking, and diverse capital flows. You start thinking in terms of scale early on.
- 👨💼 Career Portability: The skills you gain—analysis, communication, strategic thinking—are transferable across industries, sectors, and even countries.
📌 Pro Tip:
Your early years in finance are a bootcamp for life.
Intense—but transformative.
3. What Are the Main Career Paths in Finance?
| Field | What It Is | What You Actually Do | Key Skills Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Banking (IB) | Helps companies raise capital or advise on M&A (mergers and acquisitions). Fast-paced and client-facing. | Build financial models, create pitch decks, support IPOs, M&A deals, or restructuring projects. Often long hours but high visibility. | Excel modeling, presentation building, valuation (DCF, comps), stamina, communication |
| Asset Management (AM) | Manages money on behalf of clients (pension funds, endowments, individuals). Usually in public markets. | Research stocks, bonds, and other assets; construct portfolios; monitor performance and risk; meet with clients and analysts. | Markets knowledge, portfolio construction, risk analysis, storytelling with data |
| Private Equity (PE) | Invests in and improves private companies, usually post-revenue. Long-term horizon. | Source and evaluate deals, conduct deep diligence, optimize operations, help exit investments through IPO/sale. | Business analysis, financial modeling, negotiation, value creation thinking |
| Venture Capital (VC) | Invests in early-stage startups with high growth potential. Focused on innovation. | Source startups, evaluate product/market fit, meet founders, help guide company strategy post-investment. | Trendspotting, founder empathy, startup/tech ecosystem fluency, conviction in ideas |
| ESG/Sustainable/Impact Investing | Deploys capital with the intention of generating social and environmental impact alongside financial returns. | Evaluate mission-aligned investments (climate, health, education), balance ESG and financial metrics, engage with diverse stakeholders. | ESG frameworks, systems thinking, policy awareness, stakeholder management |
| Corporate Finance | Internal finance role at a company. Manages budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning. | Build budgets, analyze performance, support strategic decisions (e.g. M&A, pricing, capital allocation). | Accounting, FP&A tools, internal communication, Excel/PowerPoint |
| Sales & Trading | Buys/sells securities and executes trades for clients or the firm’s own book. Fast-moving environment. | Monitor markets, place trades, manage risk, build client relationships. Often more market-reactive than research-based. | Real-time decision making, macro awareness, pricing, mental agility |
| Research (Equity/Fixed Income) | Analyzes companies, sectors, or economies to help investors make decisions. | Write investment theses, create models, meet with management teams, forecast market trends. | Writing, analytical modeling, industry expertise, clear communication |
🎯 From the Field:
“Finance isn’t one job—it’s a global ecosystem. Pick your role based on how you think, what you value, and the pace you thrive in.”
4. What Part of the Job Do You Enjoy the Most?
Key Points:
- 😊 The People: Especially in NYC, the camaraderie was real. We spent two-thirds of our waking hours together. Some of my best friends came from those early years—laughing (we had mini basketball and PlayStation Fridays before happy hour—I don’t drink, but I loved the vibe), traveling, and growing side by side.
- 🌎 The World as a Puzzle: Investing means building hypotheses about the world and testing them in real time. The learning never ends. Markets are alive, complex, and intellectually rewarding—you’ll sharpen your thinking daily.
- 💖 Meaningful Impact: Whether allocating capital to African infrastructure or helping a client navigate transitions, it’s powerful to know your work matters. You’re shaping outcomes, sometimes far beyond what you can see.
🎯 From the Field:
The best part of finance?
Friends who become family—and the privilege of thinking about the world all day.
5. What Makes Someone Stand Out in Finance as an Analyst?
Key Points:
- 🔗 Ownership Mentality: Attitude is everything when you’re starting out. Come in early. Stay late. Before you leave, ask your manager: “Is there anything else I can help with?” That simple question opens doors. Be the person who takes initiative, thinks like an investor, and acts like a CEO/owner—emotionally and intellectually.📌 Pro Tip: Ask how your work contributes to the team’s goals—then tailor what you deliver accordingly.
- 📊 Clear Storytelling: Learn to explain your ideas in a concise, structured, and confident way. Think in headlines. Keep your manager updated regularly—show progress without being asked.📌 Pro Tip: Always brief your boss before they have to ask. Recap what’s done, what’s pending, and any open questions.
- 🔍 Hunger to Learn: Markets evolve constantly. Stay curious and teachable. Read broadly—The FT, Economist, WSJ, Bloomberg, Barron’s—and beyond. Talk to people outside your circle. Study the world, your clients, and the stories behind the data.📌 Pro Tip: Be a student of three things: markets, people, and business models. These will compound faster than any spreadsheet skill.
📌 Pro Tip (Bonus):
Standouts aren’t perfect.
They’re proactive, clear, and endlessly curious.
🎯 From the Field:
In my first year, I wasn’t the smartest analyst on the team—but I was always asking, “What else can I help with?” That one question opened doors to projects beyond my role. Within months, I was trusted with work usually reserved for second-years.
It wasn’t talent that got me there. It was ownership.
6. How are work cultures different across major financial hubs (from lived experiences)?
| Region | Work Ethic & Hours | Hierarchy & Communication | Team Dynamics | Approach to Innovation | Personal Time / Well-being |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City 🇺🇸 | Extremely fast-paced 24/7; long hours expected in banking & investing | Assertive, merit-based; juniors speak up | Competitive, individual-driven with collaboration when needed | Fast-moving; disruption welcomed | High-pressure, but mental health conversations increasing |
| West Coast (SF/LA) 🇺🇸 | More flexible; results > hours (esp. in VC/tech PE) | Flat structures; informal, first-name basis | Collaborative, feedback-driven | Highly innovative; fail-fast mindset | Strong boundaries around wellness, personal time valued |
| London 🇬🇧 | Long hours in finance, though more protected than NYC | Hierarchical but diplomatic; value wit & subtlety | Polite, consensus-oriented | Balanced between tradition and experimentation | Growing focus on flexibility and inclusion |
| Germany 🇩🇪 | Structured and efficient; long but clearly defined hours | Clear hierarchy; direct and precise communication | Team-oriented with strong individual responsibility | Methodical, engineering-style innovation | Strong separation between work and personal time; vacations well respected |
| France 🇫🇷 | Workweek capped by law; intense during hours, but shorter days | Formal tone, strong intellectual culture; hierarchy observed | Collaborative, debate welcomed | Creative but can be bureaucratic | Vacations sacred; personal time highly valued |
| Spain 🇪🇸 | Slower-paced mornings, often later evenings; flexibility varies | Hierarchical but relational; interpersonal trust matters | Close-knit teams; social connection important | Open to innovation but often within tradition | Emphasis on leisure and family; generous holidays |
| Italy 🇮🇹 | Hours vary by region and sector; northern cities more intense | Respect for hierarchy but emotional expressiveness common | Relationship-driven; informal team dynamics | Style-conscious innovation; legacy systems still common | Strong appreciation for breaks, food, and family |
| Nordics 🇸🇪🇫🇮🇳🇴🇩🇰 | Balanced workweek; efficiency over hours | Flat hierarchies; consensus and clarity prioritized | Highly collaborative; egalitarian values | Progressive and tech-forward | Exceptional work-life balance; generous parental leave and healthcare |
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | Punctual, high-performance culture; long hours in finance but well-compensated | Respectful hierarchy; multilingual communication style | Professional and discreet; small teams with high trust | Cautiously innovative; quality and stability prioritized | Strong boundaries around privacy, rest, and personal finance |
| Continental Europe - in general 🇪🇺 | Shorter hours; work-life balance emphasized | Formal but less rigid than Asia; respectful tone | Cooperative, less cutthroat | Cautious but open to structured innovation | Strong labor protections; vacations sacred |
| Japan 🇯🇵 | Very long hours, face-time culture; leaving early can be frowned upon | Very hierarchical; deferential to age/seniority | Formal, respectful; group harmony > individual voice | Conservative; prefers proven paths | Limited work-life balance; vacations often underused |
| South Korea 🇰🇷 | Intense hours; fast pace & high pressure; driven by performance and hierarchy | Top-down; junior voices often muted | Loyalty-based, high group cohesion | Cautious with change; strong senior influence | Workaholic culture but improving among younger generation |
| Hong Kong 🇭🇰 | High-energy, long hours; banking culture mirrors NYC | Performance-focused; hierarchy exists but less rigid | Competitive but pragmatic | Open to innovation if ROI is clear | Hustle culture, but rising awareness of burnout |
| Singapore 🇸🇬 | Balanced; structured and efficient workday; less “face time” than HK/JP | Respectful hierarchy; diverse due to expat culture | Multicultural, team-oriented | Embraces innovation, esp. in fintech | Better work-life balance, strong government policies |
| Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) 🇦🇪🇸🇦🇶🇦 | Long hours common in finance, energy, and government-linked sectors; pace varies between private sector (fast, high-demand) and public/sovereign wealth funds (structured but less frantic). Business days often Sunday–Thursday. | Strongly hierarchical; titles and seniority respected. Decision-making concentrated at the top; indirect or diplomatic communication often preferred, especially in cross-cultural settings. | Relationship-driven; trust and personal rapport essential before deep collaboration. Expat-heavy teams mix global corporate culture with local traditions. | Increasingly open—particularly in tech, fintech, and sustainability—driven by national visions (e.g., Vision 2030). Often top-down implementation rather than grassroots disruption. | Family and hospitality highly valued; social life intertwined with business. Work-life balance improving in progressive sectors, but long hours still common in high-stakes roles. |
7. What Advice Would You Give Your Younger self at 21?
Key Points:
- 🪙 Pay Attention to the Future, Even When It Feels Niche🎯 From the Field: I vividly remember walking through Union Square in 2009. It was summer in NYC, and people were mining Bitcoin late into the night. I didn’t think much of it. That was a sliding doors moment — they’re probably millionaires now.💬 Mindset Shift: Don’t ignore the fringe; sometimes, it’s the future in disguise.
- 🤖 Know Thyself in a Changing World💬 Mindset Shift: AI, robotics, and digital currencies will fundamentally reshape finance and society. What works today—or worked in the past—may no longer apply. Regularly reassess your strengths, your gaps, and your edge.🪞 Reflective Prompt: Ask yourself: What part of my job can be done by AI? What is my unique differentiator that AI or automation cannot replicate?
- 🧭 Marry Vision with Execution📌 Pro Tip: It’s not enough to dream big. Pair strategic vision with tactical skill. Learn the real tools—yes, that includes DCF models if you are in M&A/PE and equity or credit research if you are in research, and execution discipline and strategies if you are in trading. No shortcuts.
- 💼 Make Yourself Relevant to the System You’re In (and BE A SPONGE!)📌 Pro Tip: Understand your team’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Learn what drives success. Tailor your work to those drivers, and deliver consistently high-quality output on time or before deadlines. Make your bosses and their bosses shine and his/her job easier!💬 Mindset Shift: Ask not just what you can gain—but what you bring.
- ⌛ It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint💬 Mindset Shift: Don’t burn out early. Celebrate small wins. Energy management is a leadership skill.🪞 Reflective Prompt: What do you need to feel sustainable in this career? What are your personal signs of burnout?
- 💬 Communication > Perfection📌 Pro Tip: The ability to ask smart questions and give regular, clear updates is more valued than perfect execution. Practice clarity.BE A SPONGE!Learn. Learn. and Learn.Listen. Explore. Reach out.6 months grace period - upon joining the firm - I had coffee with everyone in the team, within the group, reached the group heads, executives at BLK and had coffee AND 1:1 MENTORING.
