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Being tee-total & working for a alcoholic boss ultimately cost me my job as my boss admitted he felt intimidated by me. He changed my global 360 review from top quartile to & #39;fifth& #39; quartile. This was at Goldman Sachs. At the time I was managing an $8bn trading book #Industrybbc
This was made worse by the fact I had a black colleague who was such good & #39;mates& #39; with him exactly like what you see in #Industrybbc private school educated - same guy told me my boss asked him if I could last and he said "Debs doesn& #39;t drink and it& #39;s a relationship business"
Despite being only 21, I had initiated and developed over 25 brand new trading relationships from scratch. This was a boss that after one trade I pulled off admitted to the whole trading team that I was managing the trading book better than when he was running it. #Industrybbc
I haven& #39;t said anything till now this was in 2011. I& #39;m telling this story to raise awareness - at the time I had no advice and my boss did not consult alot of the key stakeholders in my team - my team was only MDs and VPs. I only found out through a global HR contact I met at uni
She had risen to global head of HR and said it was a breach of her contact to let me know what happened but I had the right to know the truth. She had helped facilitate a careers conference I held via @WarwickACS in which 30 front office professionals attended in 2008 #Industry
This was a role I was thriving in and had saved the bank over $7m in 18 months through relationships I built from scratch through transactions on stocks, FX, interest rate products. I dealt with open racism and jealousy from clients "I can& #39;t believe they hired 2 black guys"
On one occasion this boss was so drunk I had to look after him - ended up paying for a hotel for him to stay at 4am before taking a cab home then I was back at work by 6.45am and he strolled in at midday. The rule was late comers bought gaucho burgers for the desk. We chopped sha
When I left GS I kept my mouth shut. Speaking then would have jeopardised my career entirely especially in an industry where many have similar alcoholic habits. I was a black kid from Peckham. Too many people were depending on my success to inspire them. I had to hold the corn.
I loved my time and my responsibilities at @GoldmanSachs and it was taken away from me by my new boss who also ironically stated he didn& #39;t like the fact so many people in the bank knew me. I was building internal relationships so I could help next generation through mentoring.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is more but I will tell my full story one day. Fortunately I kept alot of receipts to back up everything I am saying. Even recently I was asked at interview by an old acquaintance why this guy hated me so much. Stay tuned 
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The pain wasn& #39;t what actually happened it was the fact I knew it would limit my ability to break down doors at senior level to tackle diversity. That was my greater purpose but over the years I have still been able to find mentors for me mentees at GS network. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤝" title="Handschlag" aria-label="Emoji: Handschlag">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏾" title="(durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)"> #IndustryHBO
In life everything happens for a reason. It was tough at the time but I achieved in under 3 years alot! I started a trading job GS 5 months after turning 20 doing $500mn of stocks transactions daily, doing VP level stuff, built connections, learned new skills, and left a mark.
I founded an educational academy during lockdown to teach how to build a stocks and shares ISA or manage your pension (SIPP). Alot of the skills and work ethic I learnt at GS. http://www.stockpickersacademy.com"> http://www.stockpickersacademy.com or http://instagram.com/stockpickersacademy">https://instagram.com/stockpick... #EverythingHappensForAReason #Industrybbc #Industry
All the MDs were shocked and rallied round to find me a new trading job internally at GS assest mgt. They hired my replacement and I was the one responsible for training him up. This guy I showed now runs one of the biggest trading operations at citadel.
I did end up landing the job which coincidentally was a step up and early promotion! However I never started the role as GS reported a Q3 loss in 2011 so the new role got frozen indefinitely. Can you imagine going through that?
You grow through what you go through. They said that if I trained my replacement (a white oxbridge grad) then those would be the terms that would enable me to receive my leavers package/bonus. It was a tough experience I buried so much so I saw said boss in June and said hi https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😣" title="Standhaftes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Standhaftes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😣" title="Standhaftes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Standhaftes Gesicht">
The mental strength to escape the peer pressure of not joining gangs or turning to crime in Peckham. You think at big age of 21 I was going to let my career ambition and boss make me start drinking. I don& #39;t drink end of I have my reasons and I am happy and comfortable with that.
Still the life of the party and enjoying my life so far the ups and the downs. Don& #39;t ever let peer pressure make you end up being who you are not or going against your faith or personal principles. Who knows if I had succumbed I could be an alcoholic by now just dealing with that
My faith in God ultimately pulled me through because if I wasn& #39;t so thick skinned this experience could have been traumatic. I landed the role at Barclays cos the trading relationship I started meant I was trading directly with the european head at the time. Me, a 20 yo analyst
The guy that started same day as me invited me to his house as he knew what happened was too crazy to be true. He made partner at GS last week and I am so happy for him. Italian fella. We grinded late hours together and inspired each other and he helps all my mentees that intern.
Sufferif and smiling. The Nigerian spirit. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇳🇬" title="Flagge von Nigeria" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Nigeria">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇳🇬" title="Flagge von Nigeria" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Nigeria"> I had to look at the things that went well and the things I was grateful for. I& #39;m alive and in good health alone is a blessing. Nobody and nothing can break my spirit. My name means warrior I am a fighter my ancestors were fighters
