This is absolutely not the reality of a PhD. On what planet do people with those backgrounds get those positions out of their PhDs? What's the basis for this entire comment?
The basis is spending 15 years in NYC high finance and having multiple close groups of friends who graduated from Stanford, work in tech, raised VC, etc
You got me, poor wording. My father worked at a very high level in influential investment funds, I grew up around the industry and understand how it works. I will delete this later because its not something I want to advertise
It sounds like you have a background and exposure to people who might have many enabling success factors. Shiny credentials might be one but social networks are another. Collectively, they might be contributing to the success you suggest is not deserved, but I’m not sure that’s an obvious argument. People of these backgrounds could probably game any gating ritual.
Perhaps we should focus on drawing more actual talent rather than excluding the phonies (even at the highest levels, status and influence isn’t zero sum in my experience).
I think it is correct that on the surface it is credentials. I also think it is correct that the underlying property is social networks and a particular culture / mindset.
Ultimately, I think the "phonies" need to be addressed directly because I believe they are effectively a cabal.
I also think it requires the broader culture to take active steps to help make this happen: work harder to think about what bad behavior is and take action to avoid / penalize it.
FWIW, I have traveled in the finance / startup circles and kept looking for "better places" but have come to the conclusion that they are few and far between and the issue is the business culture and the broader culture that celebrates it.
