The Power Of Corporate Escalations

We shape-shift daily. It's almost a reflex - an on-demand habit we've been building and perfecting over the years. As we grow, so do the expectations. And in our industry that growth, that constant climb, is the game.   The better we get at it—chasing the next promotion, collecting new titles—the more eyes are on us. We crave admiration and recognition, but with that often comes exposure and judgment.   Welcome to The Escalation Podcast – where we talk about the reality of working in the banking and finance industry through the lenses of real people. In our opening episode, we’re going back to where it all started – before the titles and identity edits.   ⏱ Episode Chapters 00:00 – The corporate ladder & identity shifts 01:00 – Welcome to The Escalation Podcast 01:40 – The origin of “escalation” (Latin scala) 02:20 – Lyndon B. Johnson & the Vietnam-era shift 03:00 – Escalation as banking protocol 04:30 – The psychology of “urgent” emails 05:00 – Lessons from Credit Suisse 06:00 – Escalation of commitment & ego 07:00 – A new perspective after corporate life 08:00 – Why no one teaches escalation strategy 10:20 – Cultural silence & The Big Short 10:40 – Quote from Warren Buffett 11:00 – What to expect in Season 1