Business, the modern battlefield of men — and what a woman like me thinks of it

Money is the measure of success these days, especially for men. Well, that’s what the world has geared them towards, that manliness equals success, right?

Well, to me it seems, it’s not just the money, but the challenge of how badly can you screw someone over, that contributes to the sweet sweet feeling of victory and to that release of endorphins.

Look, I get it, I totally do. I’ve been observing men in banking as their assistant for 13 years now. And for another 10 years in other businesses before that as well.

Of course, banks can be great investors in amazing projects, I’m not disputing private equity companies for example.

But while I was working at Goldman Sachs on the trading floors, surrounded with all the buzzing and pinging and shouting, I witnessed something hilarious.

Suddenly one of the traders who just finished a call with a client, turned around to his colleagues and laughed very loudly, saying: “If my poor old religious mother only knew how much I lie to my customers every day, she would disown me.” And everyone else laughed as well.

Sorry, but you can’t blame the guy. It’s how this business world is built, it’s what everyone else has agreed to as well. The bankers can…