This is really fascinating, thanks for the post. I also have to add that you were a bit lucky to run into Joe. In my first job (big investment bank) there was

This is really fascinating, thanks for the post. I also have to add that you were a bit lucky to run into Joe. In my first job (big investment bank) there was too much politics and the only people I could trust (and who somewhat mentored me) were not only from different teams, but the managers of our managers were also different people.