Don't wait to be told what to do

The speaker shares their experience at Merrill Lynch during the Russian debt crisis, highlighting the importance of taking initiative and responsibility. Despite being new to banking, they learned quickly from a team reduction and took proactive steps in a challenging project involving the Egyptian electricity sector. This approach led to unexpected success and rapid promotion, emphasizing the value of stepping out of one's comfort zone and filling gaps in responsibility.

What was the initial size of the team when the speaker joined, and what happened to it?

In what ways did the speaker exceed their immediate boss's expectations?