[Updated 20/11/2023] Okay, here it goes. Some of you might already know, but I think it's time to spill the beans—I have a seedy and sordid past. Picture this: working late nights, most weekends, high on adrenaline, and perpetually sleep-deprived. Yes, I used to be an investment banking analyst in my previous life. I basked in the highs that came with the territory—the pay, the camaraderie with sharp and interesting people, feeling like the cream of the crop. #SOBALLER

As much as I revelled in the highs, the lows in my early banking years were no walk in the park. Some directors were so desperate they'd churn pitch book after pitch book, obsessing over fonts (not entirely convinced it was the Times New Roman that was the dealbreaker...). Clients could be demanding, requesting documents at 22:00 for their 'first thing in the AM' desk reviews. And then there were the colleagues—ah, the dog-eat-dog world. Adding insult to injury, piling on the pounds through Seamless web meals at my desk, and the general doom 'n' gloom of the sub-prime crisis and the 2008 economic crash were like the pink Himalayan sea-salt on the wound.

However, through these lows, I not only gained a few extra pounds but also a set of invaluable transferable skills. These skills became the backbone of my start-up baking business, transforming it from an online shop to what it is today—an "award-winning bakery in London" (sometimes, I still can't believe I can say that! AWARD-WINNING! YEAAAH!). Did I mention I graduated university with a degree in Economics & Stats? Yeah, go figure.

So, here are the Six Skills and Life Lessons from Banking that I am eternally grateful for:

1) Killer work ethic: Work like your job, bonus, and life depend on it. Long nights crunching numbers and formatting Excel models and PowerPoint presentations broke me and made me stronger. As a start-up, functioning while sleep-deprived is inevitable. I got the revenue-generating tasks done during the day—the production and baking of the cakes. Nights were reserved for the even more important but less daylight-worthy tasks—VAT and tax returns, procurement, blogging, building the website, etc. Work-life balance is a myth, and nothing dispels that myth better than a career in investment banking.

2) Teamwork & Collaboration: Learning to work closely with various people is ingrained in banking culture and was the cornerstone of growing my business. It also taught me not to dump on support staff and take them for granted. As an analyst, I remember being called back into the office one weekend to archive a lazy shopaholic associate’s emails because her inbox was too full of Net-a-Porter. Resentment aside, dealing with diva demands and nightmare colleagues made me grow a thick skin and become tolerant to Gandhi-esque proportions—essential for getting the best out of my team. Plus, I now have the privilege to pick my own team and can smell a diva from a mile away!

3) Attention to Detail & Presentation: In a highly competitive marketplace, attention to detail and top-notch presentation could be what sets one apart. Churning out countless pitch books gave me razor-sharp hawk eyes, now used to scrutinize everything leaving our kitchen. This attention has been especially helpful in attracting discerning corporate customers from banks and law firms, appreciating the extra attention to creating perfect gifts for their clients and nailing consistency.

4) Work hard at working smart: Juggling multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines are key skills for any analyst or small business owner. I found myself being my own graphics, marketing, finance, HR, and operations team. Efficiency has never been more critical. And hey, there are no shortcuts in business... except in Excel (Alt+Tab is still my favourite).

Easiest way to double efficiency? Work with two hands, duh.

5) Numbers don’t lie: With so much invested in our business, taking an objective view of the numbers is crucial. Analysing trends and recognizing our product margins helps identify what’s commercially viable, despite personal feelings about a product. Ultimately, nothing prepares you better for numbers than banking!

6) Arrogance vs Confidence: OMG did I meet some arrogant banker types! When you've graduated from a good university, jumped through hoops and off cliffs at interviews and day-long assessment centres, and secured a job at XYZ Investment Bank surrounded by others who have gone through the same, you could very easily be drowning in your own awesome sauce cool aid, going YEAAHHHH BOIII. Apart from potentially being blind-sided by delusion, arrogance puts people off, and nobody likes a brag (award-winning or not!). As a start-up, I had to ditch the ego, become my own worst critic, and let my confidence grow at its own comfortable pace along with experience. And I've still got a long way to grow yet.

So there you have it, from banking to baking. My super dirty not-so-secret secret and my most useful lessons learned. If you've had a similarly different career change, I'd love to hear from you below!

Love,

Reshmi xoxo