Most noble post investment banking exits?

Idk, teaching underprivileged kids, working for the government? What are the most noble post investment banking exits? What's an IB exit, that could come out of the mouth of an investment banker and would seem not crazy/not believable/not atypical. 

32 Comments
 

Work in the government --> find an insane inefficiency --> start a business. 

Brad Smith, a healthcare entrepreneur, has co-founded two current healthcare unicorns that way (Main Street Health and CareBridge). Crazy impressive and somewhat familiar with both business models through some networking. In my opinion, both his ventures adds a ton of value for underserved rural patients, especially in the Medicaid population.

I know of at least 1 other healthcare unicorn founder who also worked in government initially before starting a venture that adds a lot of value on the clinician side. I'd imagine it's the same in any other industry, working for the government will show you the inefficiencies in the space and where a new venture can explore a solution.

Any sharp minded person (including ex-bankers) could try to go this way but it will be a long game. Both examples I mentioned above had private sector success in their ventures at least 3-4 years after leaving government.

 

Another exit which is uncommon but I've seen is going to med school. Know 2 bankers who've done this. One is a family medicine doc now (got fired during the GFC and decided to go back to school to take med school pre-reqs in 2009 or 2010). Loves his job now and his patients have given him really good reviews. He had a juvie record and was a problem child growing up. Honestly surprised how he bounced back after getting fired in the GFC. I know for at least a year before going back to school he was partying a lot and seemed lost.

 

Because short of making a large enough fortune to influence policy (which you’re not going to have coming out of an IB stint), that’s how you make the most change happen.

Either you run a candidacy and win an election, or you start working your way up the bureaucratic ladder. Each of those primarily influence different kinds of laws, policies, and regulations, but both are essential to the running of the country. And if you believe in something and want to improve it for the better, being involved in the government is the most direct way to have that impact.

 
lumber_cruncher

Because short of making a large enough fortune to influence policy (which you’re not going to have coming out of an IB stint), that’s how you make the most change happen.

Change for the worse a lot of the time.....also, I think something like 5 of the counties of the richest 10 counties in the U.S. are around D.C.  They're not really doing the Lord's work over there. Everyone from the government employees to the lobbyists to the contractors are living pretty high on the hog.

 
lumber_cruncher

Because short of making a large enough fortune to influence policy (which you’re not going to have coming out of an IB stint), that’s how you make the most change happen.

Either you run a candidacy and win an election, or you start working your way up the bureaucratic ladder. Each of those primarily influence different kinds of laws, policies, and regulations, but both are essential to the running of the country. And if you believe in something and want to improve it for the better, being involved in the government is the most direct way to have that impact.

Ask random citizens what they think noble professions are, and I doubt you'd hear "politician" from any of them.

 

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