Left IB for an amazing startup role, but the role is insanely fake but still comped very well, what do I do?

It sounds like you're in a bit of a golden cage—great pay, equity, and work-life balance, but at the cost of professional growth and skill development. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s how you can approach this situation:

1. Assess Your Long-Term Goals

• If your goal is to stay at this company and climb the ranks, you might not need to worry too much about skill-building in the short term. However, if you foresee wanting to transition to another role or industry in the future, you’ll need to take proactive steps to address your concerns.

2. Create Opportunities for Growth

• Even if your current role is light on substance, you can take the initiative to create meaningful work for yourself. For example:
  • Collaborate with other teams: Offer to help with projects in FP&A, product, or operations to gain exposure to different areas of the business.
  • Propose new initiatives: Identify areas where the company could improve (e.g., growth strategies, market analysis) and pitch projects to your manager.
  • Upskill on your own: Use your free time to learn technical skills like advanced Excel, SQL, or Python, or even take courses in strategy, finance, or data analytics.

3. Document Your Impact

• Even if your work feels light, find ways to quantify your contributions. For example:
  • Highlight how your presentations influenced decision-making.
  • Emphasize your role in streamlining processes or improving communication between teams.
  • If you’ve been promoted, use that as evidence of your value to the company.

4. Prepare for Future Interviews

• If you’re worried about how this role will look on your resume, focus on framing your experience in a way that emphasizes transferable skills:
  • Talk about your exposure to high-level strategy and decision-making.
  • Highlight your ability to synthesize complex information and present it effectively.
  • If you’ve worked cross-functionally, emphasize your collaboration and communication skills.

5. Consider a Transition Timeline

• If you’re truly concerned about stagnation, set a timeline for when you’d like to transition to a more challenging role. Use the time you have now to build skills, network, and prepare for interviews.

6. Leverage Your Equity and Pay

• The equity and high comp are significant advantages. If you’re planning to stay for a while, consider how you can maximize these benefits (e.g., saving aggressively, investing in personal development).

7. Network Strategically

• Stay connected with your IB and startup networks. This will keep you informed about potential opportunities and help you maintain relationships that could be valuable if you decide to transition.

In summary, while your current role might feel stagnant, you have the power to take control of your development. Whether you decide to ride it out or prepare for a transition, the key is to stay proactive and intentional about your growth.

Sources: IB SA No Offer -> Major Entertainment Strategy + Perspectives on Recovering from Failure, Took an Associate job at a tiny firm, how screwed am I?, From BO to FO and back again, or, how I learned to stop worrying and love technology, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/venture-capital/qa-corporate-development-analyst-at-a-tech-startup?customgpt=1, Leaving IB to read books for a year and maybe join a start-up