What I Learned at Stanford: 3 Unexpected Lessons about Silicon Valley

Stanford University campus, 2018

Studying at Stanford business school (GSB) over 2017-2018 was a transformative experience. In our cohort, we honed our vision and skills in strategy, innovation and leadership with world-class MBA faculty. Because this was an executive program, we had to apply coursework lessons in the workplace, turned into a lab sometimes uncomfortably so. In true Californian spirit, we were encouraged to question our assumptions about career, business and culture in quite challenging ways. Given my background as an anthropologist, I embraced this experiential approach. In the process, I draw a few insights from unexpected situations during my brief yet immersive time at Silicon Valley.

1. Tech giants don't look so giant

I couldn't help but notice how ordinary and flawed daily life in major tech companies of Silicon Valley can be. I'm not referring to current controversies around big data, surveillance or diversity, but to the fact that, even in the most coveted of cutting-edge spaces, PowerPoint still failed, doors creaked, and people said unremarkable things. When looked at more closely, tech giants didn't look as giant anymore. Underneath their massive scale, they felt somewhat fragile. As Gladwell noted in his David-and-Goliath study, nimble underdogs often overcome dreaded juggernauts. Something to think about.

2. Exciting careers are often random

As I interacted with well-positioned professionals in venture capital, they told me about how they had stumbled more or less haphazardly into their positions. Rather than careful career planning and powerful connections, they had found out about available jobs they then applied for. Of course, they leveraged network connections and superior education, but did not seem to be benefiting from rampant class privilege. Instead, they were dedicated individuals who seized on some interesting opportunity they more or less enjoy. Career vision and assertiveness are needed for professional growth, but much of what you see about charismatic tech evangelists on the news is just plain PR.

 3. Tremendous goodwill to improve the world

Students in elite tech hubs are often depicted as selfish or naive individuals inadvertently engendering Black Mirror scenarios. However, my experience at Stanford was different. I was impressed with the willingness of students, employees and professionals to do good for society at large. They spent time and effort developing pro-bono solutions to social problems (poverty, health, environment, loneliness, etc.). There are structural limits to individual altruism, but as Mark Twain suggested: “they did not know it was impossible, so they did it.” The excitement and optimism I saw at Stanford was remarkable, even contagious.


Empowerment through Realism and Imagination

Underlying these various experiences at the mecca of tech is a lesson of human empowerment. It goes along the excellent business training I got at Stanford, to realize that snafus and accidents happen to exceptional companies and individuals as they go about their projects. We all put our pants on the same way, regardless of where you are. Most of us underestimate our potential to produce meaningful action. Even as agency is probably easier from a position of privilege, it is heartwarming to see that generous goodwill still flourishes in places where personal gain may easily lie elsewhere. Disruption wouldn't be disruptive if it were easily predictable. That's how established giants get blindsided and fall.