Learning to staple in investment banking

A flashback to my Morgan Stanley investment banking years, almost two decades ago!

In July of 2002, I walked into Morgan Stanley’s office at 25 Cabot Square in Canary Wharf in London as a proud member of that year’s investment banking starting analyst class. Pushing the heavy revolving door, I entered the heart of capitalism, enjoying the feel of cufflinks on my sleeves and the crisp fabric of my slim-waist designer-label shirt caressing the skin of the upper part of my body.

Ding! Ding! Ding! The elevators rang as I entered the lobby. The movies, like The Wolf of Wall Street, or The Pursuit of Happiness are good at portraying the ambiance of investment banking, even if they exaggerate it a bit. The buzz of the morning flurry around me was electrifying. I received my ID at the reception desk and headed toward one of the upper floors to start training.

Joining investment banking for the first time is the thrill of a lifetime and the first few weeks are magic. You get accessories, like a bag with the bank’s logo, and an American Express card. You don’t yet have clients to take out to restaurants, and won’t have for years, but to have that card in your wallet…