Does height and ethnicity matter in IB nowadays?

hi guys, I just wanted to know if both height and ethnicity matter in IB now a day? I am a freshman in college and after learning about IB, it is a path I want to take but have been told that ones’ presence and ethnicity matter. I am 5’6 1/2 and both me and my parents migrated from Ecuador when I was 4. I am white and don’t look Hispanic at all lol

10 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Met plenty of people in finance with central/south american backgrounds and many were below the average height (5'9 or shorter). So the short answer to your question - no, height and ethnicity doesn't matter.

That said, the popularity contest never really goes away. Its important to fit in and share interests with the broader group. Having been here since you were 4, I think you'll be fine. Humans seem to be inherently tribal, and for better or for worse, my take is the tribe of finance circle is less white vs. others and more cultural/class vs. others. The type of school you go to, the first bank you work at, your interests outside of work, how you dress - those things send stronger "fit in" messages than height and ethnicity.

I would like to say that work ethic and intelligence are the biggest drivers of success, but you can't ignore the popularity contest.. Luckily the older we get, the less the truly superficial things start to matter and more of the "how to win friends and influence people" stuff takes precedence.

Sorry for rambling.. haven't had my coffee yet.

 

It matters insofar as you make it matter. If you're super insecure about your height and ethnicity and make awkward references to it or let it impair your confidence it'll come through in interviews in an off putting way.

If you carry yourself with confidence then it won't matter. The managing partner at my previous fund was tiny -- I'm talking less than 5'5 -- who absolutely commanded rooms with his presence. Maybe if he was 6 feet tall he could've raised bigger funds, but by any objective standard he's incredibly successful.

 

Maiores eos ipsa laboriosam alias qui recusandae iusto consequuntur. Tenetur sed aut a est eveniet. Inventore nostrum enim qui sequi voluptatum molestiae ea. Maxime ullam ex aut nulla ipsam quis.

Asperiores iusto eum sequi. Laborum rerum et iure odio. Nulla nihil eum ex et qui velit architecto. Qui id distinctio dolor reprehenderit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”