Diversity of academic discipline/course in IB

Based on the most helpful WSO content, diversity in academic disciplines is indeed valued by experienced bankers and MDs, not just HR. Here are some insights:

1. Intellectual Skills and Diverse Thinking:

   • Investment banking requires a mix of strategic thinking, commercial negotiations, understanding of local and geopolitics, finance analytics, and effective salesmanship. These skills are not exclusive to finance or STEM graduates. Humanities majors, for example, often bring unique perspectives and critical thinking skills that are valuable in these areas.

2. Humanities and Critical Thinking:

   • Humanities majors, such as those in history or English, are often preferred by some experienced bankers over finance or STEM majors. This is because liberal arts education frequently involves dealing with relativities and reaching one's own conclusions, which can be beneficial in the non-quantitative, art-like nature of investment banking.

3. Value of Non-STEM Backgrounds:

   • The critical thinking developed in liberal arts fields is different from that in STEM fields. While STEM fields deal with absolutes, liberal arts fields encourage a type of thinking that can be very successful in investment banking. This diversity in thought processes is seen as an asset.

4. Real-World Application:

   • A Managing Director in IB-M&A mentioned that the intelligence required to be a successful banker is different from that needed for roles like researchers or quants. This suggests that diverse academic backgrounds can contribute to the varied intellectual skills needed in banking.

5. Practical Examples:

   • There are instances where experienced professionals in the industry have expressed a preference for candidates with diverse academic backgrounds. For example, one professional stated they would choose a history or English major over a finance or STEM major for IB, all else being equal.

In summary, the value of diverse academic disciplines in investment banking is recognized and appreciated by experienced bankers and MDs, not just HR. This diversity brings different intellectual skills and perspectives that are crucial for the multifaceted nature of the job.

Sources: Do the humanities have value in today's banking world?, Anyone who chose IB because it’s “dull?”, Diversity, Why do MBAs seem to favor consulting over banking nowadays?, Why are banks hiring less qualified candidates?