Commentary
In recent years, a chorus of complaints has emerged from millennial and Gen-Z interns and junior analysts about the allegedly intolerable conditions at top investment banks. The grievances—ranging from long hours and high stress to inconsistent team dynamics and alleged workplace “toxicity”—have generated headlines and sparked conversations about labor conditions and culture in high finance. But beneath the noise lies a deeper misunderstanding about the nature of elite private institutions, the purpose of internships, and the reality of competition in a modern, highly financialized economy.
