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Why Investment Banking Was Once 'No Place for Women'
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-11 15:09
Gender Inequality in Investment Banking - An investment bank president expressed the view that "there's no place for women here" due to family responsibilities and perceived workload issues [1] - The president cited women in their 30s trying to have a family as a reason for their unsuitability, suggesting the workload is too much [2] - The industry perceives women as less committed because men typically do not take leave when starting a new family [2] Impact on Workplace Dynamics - Unequal leave-taking affects not only the men and their children but also the women in the workplace, including spouses [3] - The lack of male participation in family leave negatively impacts the dynamic for women in the workplace [3]
Why Vietnam Had to Make a Trade Deal With Trump
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-11 08:00
Trade Relations & Economic Impact - Vietnam's economy is heavily reliant on exports, representing approximately 90% of its GDP [4][8] - The US is Vietnam's largest export market, leading to a significant trade surplus and making it a target for potential tariffs [1] - Potential tariffs from the US, such as a proposed 46% tariff, could profoundly impact Vietnam's economy and manufacturing sector [2][10] - Vietnam experienced substantial foreign investment, exceeding $600 billion since 1988, contributing to export growth [7] Geopolitical Strategy & Manufacturing - Vietnam has become a major player in the global supply chain, manufacturing goods for various American companies and global brands [3][4] - The "China Plus One" strategy led companies to relocate some production to Vietnam to avoid tariffs on Chinese goods, benefiting Vietnam during US-China trade tensions [8][9] - Vietnam employs a "bamboo diplomacy" strategy to navigate complex relationships between the US and China, balancing economic and geopolitical considerations [15][16] - Vietnam's government is proactively engaging with the US to mitigate trade imbalances, including purchasing US products [12] Historical Context & Economic Development - Post-war Vietnam was one of the world's poorest countries, but economic reforms and policies to attract foreign investment have driven significant growth [5][6] - Vietnam's strategy of offering tax incentives, infrastructure development, and an open attitude to global manufacturers has been successful in attracting foreign investment [6]
The Future of DEI in Finance
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-10 16:01
What do you guys make of this backlash like the DEI push back there has been. What does that look like from where you sit. I think there's this sort of lack of desire to have um you know formulas and regulations around some of this.But if you talk to most CEOs and boards, they're doing things because it's the right thing to do. So I think it's still really happening in the background. It's just probably lost a little bit of sort of like the steam and sort of the outward push that that that folks are being f ...
Online Trading Academy Upends Thousands of Young People’s Lives
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-10 13:50
Woo. Hit the stage. Hit the stage.You're brainwashed into this is something that is life-changing. It can be something that's life-changing. If you bring more people, what that allows the company to do is to tell people, "If you're failing right now, it's your fault. It's because you're not projecting wealth enough." It allows them to also isolate you from the people you know because they'll say stuff like you need to surround yourself with wealthy people if you want to become wealthy and wealthy people tha ...
Broken Dreams and Millions Lost: The IM Academy Story
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-09 19:42
Repeat after me. I am a winner. I am a winner. I am a success. I am Academy essentially sells you a dream.Invest into yourself, into your mind. Empower yourself. Grow someone who's never going to be a slave to the corporate ladder. Who's never going to have to work 9 to5 their whole lives.They say your network is your net worth. It's not what you know, it's who you know. The rooftops.I didn't know how big it was or how big it was going to get. I am the greatest trainer of all time. It was all about look at ...
Anne Walsh’s Passion Is to Bring More Women to Finance
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-09 15:10
Industry Gender Diversity - The industry needs to attract more women, as current portrayals like "Wolf of Wall Street" are unattractive to women and young people seeking purposeful careers [1] - Investment management and asset management can be framed as making a difference, appealing to those seeking purposeful careers [1] - The industry should attract more women, as it manages retirement money and college savings [2] Guggenheim's Performance & Goals - Guggenheim's team is composed of 30% women, which is above the industry average [2] - Guggenheim aims to increase the percentage of women in its team to reflect the population, targeting a 50/50 gender balance [2]
Broken Dreams and Millions Lost: The IM Academy Story | Bloomberg Investigates
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-09 13:01
Business Model & Claims - IM Academy sells a dream of financial freedom through online trading education [1] - The company claims members can learn to trade online, make money, and become rich [10] - It emphasizes personal empowerment and escaping the "nine-to-five" corporate life [1] - The company uses social media influencers to showcase a luxurious lifestyle to attract new members [9] - The company's founder aimed to build a billion-dollar business with a million users [15] Recruitment & MLM Structure - IM Academy operates on a multi-level marketing (MLM) structure, rewarding members for recruiting new members [40][41] - Recruiting is heavily incentivized, with commissions and rank advancements tied to the number of recruits [40][44] - The company encourages aggressive recruitment tactics, urging members to prospect multiple people daily [39] - The company's income disclosure revealed that 94% of members earned less than they paid for their subscription in a year [49] - A small percentage (005%) at the top earned an average of $14 million per year [50] Trading & Education - IM Academy offers online trading lessons, initially focused on foreign exchange (Forex) markets [8] - Members receive "signals" or predictions on price movements, but these are risky and can lead to losses [31][34] - The company claims to teach members to trade various assets, including shares and cryptocurrencies [30][31] - Critics argue that most members make money through recruiting rather than trading [43] - The company is not regulated to provide financial advice, and the founder has never registered as a broker [36][37] Ethical & Legal Concerns - The company faces accusations of fraud, misleading advertising, and running a pyramidal scheme [2][69] - The company's founder has a criminal record and some promoters lack formal financial education [37] - The company has been investigated by the FTC for deceptive or unfair actions [52] - The company has faced numerous complaints, with people reporting significant financial losses and feelings of being brainwashed [57][58][59] - The company isolates members from their families and friends, encouraging them to associate only with other members [55][56]
Jane Fraser on Being the Only Woman Leading a Major US Bank
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-08 17:47
Diversity & Inclusion - The industry acknowledges the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles, specifically noting only one woman leading a major US bank [1] - Unconscious or conscious biases exist within the system, hindering women's advancement [2] - Diversity is not just a matter of fairness but a competitive advantage, as excluding women cuts off access to 50% of the workforce [4] - The business case for diversity is overwhelmingly clear, and it's frustrating when people don't recognize it [4] Challenges & Opportunities - It's frustrating when women are asked questions that men in similar positions are not [3] - The focus should be on providing opportunities for everyone, creating a win-win situation rather than a zero-sum game [3] - Breaking through and achieving gender equality should become business as usual, not an unusual occurrence [2]
What It’s Really Like for Women in Finance | Bullish
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-08 13:01
Industry Trends & Challenges - The finance industry is seeing a growing number of powerful women managing vast amounts of capital, indicating a shift in the traditionally male-dominated field [1][2] - The industry average for women on finance teams is lower than Guggenheim's 30%, highlighting a need for further progress towards gender parity [6] - There's a perception that "greed is good," as portrayed in media like "Wolf of Wall Street," which may deter women and young people seeking purposeful careers from entering the finance industry [5] - DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives are facing pushback, potentially slowing down the momentum of increasing diversity among fund managers and founders [23][25] - Some individuals still hold biases, such as the belief that "chicks can't do math," revealing persistent stereotypes in the finance sector [31] Women's Impact & Opportunities - Women control approximately 80% of global discretionary spending, demonstrating their significant economic influence [13] - Women are projected to control over 50% of the global wealth market in the next five years, indicating a major shift in financial power [13] - Women-led firms controlled only 0.7% of assets in alternative investments as of 2021, revealing a significant disparity in asset control [14] - Companies with more gender diversity on executive teams are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability, underscoring the business case for inclusion and diversity [47] - Women are finding success in less institutionalized areas like music, media, and entertainment, building businesses in less trafficked sectors [30] Leadership & Progress - As of the report's timeline, Jane Fraser is the only woman to lead a major US bank, highlighting the ongoing underrepresentation of women in top leadership positions [38] - Citigroup moves $5 trillion a day, exceeding the GDP of France, showcasing the scale of responsibility held by its CEO [41] - The trading floor environment is more positive and diverse compared to the 1980s, indicating cultural transformations within financial institutions [48] - Progress for women in finance is not always linear, and there's a responsibility to continue advocating for change for future generations [34][50]
How Hampton Inn Became Hilton's Silent Moneymaker
Bloomberg Originals· 2025-07-07 08:00
- This is the Hampton Inn. The red trimmed sign. The familiar beige box.Inside, a waffle station you man yourself. Crisp sheets. Light switches right where you'd expect.And that little sign that promises 100% satisfaction. Across the world, the aesthetic is pretty similar. So how did one of America's most predictable hotels become one of its most profitable.In the 1950s through the 1970s, there were two types of hotels - full service and motels. Full service offered onsite dining options in addition to othe ...