BNY has finished its evolution from financial institution to LinkedIn‑themed performance art, where optics outrank output and your “personal brand” is the only deliverable that matters.
Real work is optional; what counts is the curated feed of hallway selfies, Teams‑call enthusiasm, and gratitude posts praising and thanking the EC, all polished to a corporate shine.
Following RV's brilliant example, Leadership has quietly traded competence for corporate‑influencer energy, rewarding visibility over execution because it’s easier to manage a workforce obsessed with image than one asking hard questions.
The shift isn’t accidental. It’s a distraction from layoffs, offshoring, and AI quietly absorbing job families. If employees stay busy perfecting “leadership presence,” they won’t notice the restructuring happening beneath them. BNY doesn’t want performers — it wants performances. Show up to the photo‑op town hall, drop a few “inspiring journey” hashtags, give a like to an EC empathy post, sing hallelujah praises to the almighty RV and EC team and suddenly you’re a rising star, even if your actual output fits on a sticky note.
At BNY, the only performance that matters is the one you can screenshot.