From Big Floors to Small Rooms: Reflections on Joining a Boutique Firm

Moving from a large investment bank to a smaller boutique advisory has been an eye-opener. The first thing you notice is how different communication feels. No endless email chains or meetings with twenty people oncopy, just direct conversations, quick decisions, and real collaboration.

In a smaller team, everyone is visible. You’re not a name buried in an internal system; your input matters, and you feel it. We have weekly firm meetings where everyone’s across what’s happening, from deals and strategy to smaller wins, and that transparency builds a real sense of ownership.

Of course, there’s the flip side. With fewer layers, there’s also less hand-holding. You need to figure things out on your own, set your own deadlines, and keep yourself accountable. It pushes you to be a self-starter, to anticipate rather than wait for direction.

And yes, sometimes it means a bit more work. Actually, let’s be honest, most of the time it does. But at least the coffee’s better, the jokes travel faster, and on some days, you can make all that happen from your kitchen table!

Johnny Fares Eid

Director