Meet Ralph Etienne: The Banker Representing Haiti in Winter Paralympics
Ralph Etienne, a 36-year-old associate at Bank of America’s London financial sponsors team, embodies remarkable resilience. At just 20, he lost a leg during the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. “They had to carve my flesh out of the building to get me out,” he recalls, emphasizing the harrowing experience.
After earning his MBA in the U.S., Etienne joined BofA in 2022. His transition to London came amidst heightened restrictions on foreigners in the U.S. Now, he’s balancing his bank job with his role in Haiti’s skiing team for the upcoming Winter Paralympics, which involves frequent trips to the Swiss Alps.
His schedule can be grueling. “Sometimes I’m leaving the office at 2 am because I have work I need to finish before I get on a 6 am flight to get to Switzerland,” he admits. Despite the hectic pace, his optimism is infectious. Fellow Paralympic skiers have noted his unwavering “I can do it” attitude.
Bank of America has extended support, especially when travel from the U.S. became limited. They facilitated his move to London, and during the last two weeks of 2025, allowed their financial sponsors team to work from anywhere, which Etienne utilized to stay in Switzerland while managing his responsibilities.
Meanwhile, banking culture seems to have mixed feelings about work dynamics. Craig Corben, a former co-head at BofA, commented on the tendency of less enthusiastic bankers to cling to project teams to maintain visibility, especially when job security feels uncertain. This creates a curious disconnect in the office environment.
In Other Financial News
SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are gearing up for IPOs this year, collectively rivaling more than 200 other IPOs slated for 2025. OpenAI aims for a stunning $750 billion valuation, while SpaceX targets $800 billion and Anthropic sets its sights on $300 billion.
Jane Street has notably invested in Anthropic and expected significant returns in late 2025. On the compensation front, OpenAI’s stock-based rewards average around $1.5 million per employee, raising eyebrows for its scale across approximately 4,000 staff members.
In hedge fund performance, Citadel’s Wellington Fund experienced a 10.2% growth last year, while Millennium increased by 10.5%. Meanwhile, D.E. Shaw paused cash returns to its investors amidst varied investment landscapes.
Amid these developments, mid-level lawyers in some U.S. firms will reportedly receive bonuses exceeding $300,000 this month. Meanwhile, employment for senior bankers in Asia soared by 60% last year, hinting at a vibrant job market there.
In a curious tale, a 23-year-old banker in London—having converted to Orthodoxy—was left struggling to recall his new name, showcasing the quirky side of banking life.
In other news, Gabby Stonkte, 35, faced a severe accident while cycling, resulting in multiple injuries and emergency surgery—a stark reminder of life’s unpredictability.
Jeff Falls, 64, transitioned to driving for Uber after losing his financial advisory position two years ago and is still on the hunt for a new opportunity.
An intriguing aspect of ancient calendars reveals that the first Roman calendar marked time starting on the vernal equinox, leaving a blank period in winter without a name—a time that perhaps belonged to the dead.
