Investment Banking

Why this boomer dealmaker disagrees Gen Z are ‘feckless avocado eaters’

Veteran dealmaker Ken Costa says banks — and society at large — need to prepare for a huge generational shift

Ken Costa said that he 'totally disagrees' with the notion that Gen Z are 'feckless avocado eaters' unwilling to burn the midnight oil
Ken Costa said that he 'totally disagrees' with the notion that Gen Z are 'feckless avocado eaters' unwilling to burn the midnight oil Photo: Getty Images

When a group of Goldman Sachs analysts published a presentation outlining 100-hour weeks and declining mental health in 2021, it kick-started a rebellion in the junior ranks as Gen Z bankers pushed back on a brutal rite of passage in the industry that has existed for decades.

Banks responded in typical fashion — by hiking pay by up to 40% in the space of a year in a bid to stem an exodus of talent.

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