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The Elite MBA

I was once employed as an intern in a European Bank branch in India. During the annual management summer trainee season, we saw an influx of MBA students from across the country. The Bank had a policy of taking students only from the top-tier creme de la creme B-Schools. One such summer trainee from a premier institute joined our team. The Brahminism, so to say, which he exuded was unbelievable. A smug expression, a tone of authority, and an unmistakable air of derision when we spoke with us interns, as if we were children of lesser gods. Of course, he was as brown nosed as they come with the managers. He never missed an opportunity to show me down. Pointing out that while he was my age, he was more more polished and well-read owing to his top-notch management institute. One day, he came to me saying his PC wasn't working. He said he'd tried switching it on several times, but it just wouldn't turn on. I told him I wasn't IT, but volunteered to check out what the issue w...
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Letting Go of Control

At the nascent stages of my Banking career, I was interning in London. One of my bosses there was seemingly perennially sour-faced. His educational credentials were impeccable. Armed with an Engineering degree from a creme-de-la-creme institute, he had also gone to an Ivy league B-School. So part of the snob-value was warranted. That, plus 15 years of a scintillating Banking career probably meant he had earned that attitude. As an inquisitive young intern, I was often asking questions to everyone. But this particular gentleman didn't take too well to my curiosity. "Young man, my 10-year old kid doesn't ask as many questions as you do", said in a deep condescending baritone, was enough to quell my query mid-sentence. One day, he was working on a PowerPoint presentation for a strategy meeting. He beckoned me for some 'technical assistance'. As every banker worth their salt would admit, our world revolves around making presentations. Yesteryear bankers used trans...
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Hello World

First off the bat, I am a Banker, yes. I am here to relate some of my stories, and some gathered from other contributors.  Most outsiders consider Banking to be a dreary, boring, lethargy-inducing, number-crunching business. It is all of these, admittedly, but it has its share of fun moments. This blog is not an attempt to demystify the world of Banking, nor is it a platform to share dark secrets about the financial industry. It is an anonymous avenue for me to share some of my rib-tickling experiences along my career in Banking. I also invite my readers to contribute their own funny stories at work. I promise to paraphrase and post without divulging your true identity.
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