To start things off...
(I can't post links but you can google these two)
1) Houston Named The Most Diverse City In The U.S. In Recent Survey
2) Houston ranks as the No. 6 best city for diversity in STEM
I am an URM, and I grew up in Houston. My city is very, very diverse. I've never encountered diversity, or race issues my entire life in this city, until recruiting for Investment Banking in the city. I'm a firm believer that there is strength in diversity, and that firms can really only succeed if they elevate those who come from diverse backgrounds. Let me be very clear when I say this: There is nothing that a white person can do better than any person of color, AND vice versa. I'm sorry, the thought that the color of one's skin makes someone a better banker is objectively not true, and I want to outright state that. Also, many of the folks I've met are downright socially awkward, condescending, fratty, drop F-bombs left and right, and generally don't seem like well rounded people. BUT...they are white, and they have the job. Like only 2 or 3 banks had emotionally intelligent people, that passed MY airport test. Luckily I'll be heading to a different city to work IB, but this was a memorably horrible experience.
I met with 16 banks, and well over 100 people. 99% of them are white. I've met 2 URM, 3 women, and probably 120 white guys. This is a clear aberration from the makeup of local universities, local organizations, local schools, local neighborhoods, and just my city as a whole.
A few months back I interviewed with many banks, got to the final rounds of many of them, and every MD on my superdays was a white guy. Maybe 99% white MD's, and a 2-3 minority MD's. I struck out on all the superdays where everyone was white, and the job went to a 6' tall white guy who looks like your local Chad. Where is the dang diversity? Stop hiring your buddies, or people who look like you. Barclays was probably the worst in my opinion - every single person was the whitest of white, and it was so uncomfortable. At least some of the other banks had one person that wasn't white. To the folks in Houston, make a serious effort to include women, Hispanics, African-Americans, Arabs, Asians, and non-white persons in your process. I'm sorry that my name isn't Ryan, or Jim, or Bob, or Drew. I can't relate to the fact that you went to a private school or that I don't golf. Why are these even measures of fit? I'm grateful that I landed at a good spot in New York, where the diversity is amazing. New York does not have this issue....seriously it was wonderful meeting with colored MD's.
I was very concerned about this a few months back. I took a deep introspective look at my ability to interview, how I come off in person, and my general people skills. I work very hard on that front, and objectively, per my performance with getting other competitive jobs, I'm pretty certain that's not the issue. I turned down a big 3 consulting offer, so I hope that helps y'all before you accuse me of being weird...
So WSO, tell me why Houston has a diversity problem in IB? Is it fixable? Why aren't you in the space hiring more folks who don't look like you, and have names different than yours? At a happy hour with one of the banks they started verbally taking a big dump on the democratic party, Elizabeth Warren, and put me on the spot to answer how I felt about it. This is completely unprofessional. Also, pro tip: 18-34 year olds lean blue, and our city is very, very blue. IDC about your politics, treat each of your candidates like a human being, and fight your subconscious biases. Not all of us went to prep school, not all of us had daddy money to fund private universities, and not all of us worship the GOP, or Reaganomics. Be objective.
This was a serious issue for me, and I'm just getting around to talking about it. What gives?