Beginning my global business program with a deep dive into the finance worlds of New York and London has been both exhilarating and eye-opening. These two cities are global financial giants, and within just a week, I’ve already begun to understand how distinct their cultures, operations, and atmospheres are—and how those differences influence the way business is done.
New York, home to Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, moves at a pace that’s impossible to ignore. Everything feels fast, loud, and charged with ambition. Whether I was walking through the Financial District or sitting in on a panel discussion with finance professionals, I noticed a common theme: time is money. Meetings are fast-paced, communication is direct, and success is measured by how quickly and aggressively you can make moves. The hustle mentality isn’t just a stereotype—it’s embedded in the culture, and you can feel it in every corner of the city. There is an energy that pushes you to think bigger, act faster, and never slow down.
Then came London. While equally influential in the finance world, the City of London offered a different experience entirely. The financial district is historic yet modern, formal yet innovative. Here, business is approached with more structure, tradition, and intentionality. Professionals are still driven and ambitious, but there’s more emphasis on building long-term relationships, on subtlety, and on professionalism. There’s a quiet confidence in London’s finance scene—a sense of control and heritage that contrasts with New York’s loud urgency.
As I navigate both cities, I’m beginning to see how culture shapes everything, even in a numbers-driven world like finance. What I hope to gain from this experience is a deeper understanding of how business is conducted across cultures, and how I can take the best from both worlds—New York’s drive and London’s diplomacy—into my own future career. This is more than just learning about global markets; it’s about becoming globally minded, adaptable, and ready to lead anywhere in the world.
And this is just the beginning.
