Working as a receptionist at a Silicon Valley startup means I live in the space between ambition and reality.
Most people think my job is about answering calls and greeting guests. But the truth is, I witness the startup story in real time — not from boardrooms, but from the front row.
I’ve seen candidates walk in nervous, clutching resumes, hoping this building changes their life. Some walk out smiling with offer letters. Others leave quietly, trying to hide disappointment. I’m the one who says, “Have a great day,” to both.
I’ve watched founders celebrate funding rounds with sparkling water in paper cups — and months later, I’ve watched the same leadership team call emergency all-hands meetings when runway gets tight. The mood in the lobby tells you everything. You can feel when numbers aren’t looking good. Conversations get shorter. Smiles get thinner.
Being at the front desk means people underestimate you. They talk freely around you. They vent while waiting for elevators. They reveal stress they’d never show in a meeting. Over time, you learn that startups aren’t just about innovation — they’re about pressure. Pressure to grow. Pressure to impress investors. Pressure to move faster than everyone else.
And through all of it, I stay steady.
I make sure visitors feel welcomed even when the company feels uncertain. I keep things running smoothly when calendars fall apart. I calm frustrated clients waiting for meetings that run late. I’m not building the product, but I’m protecting the experience.
There’s something powerful about being the constant in a place that changes daily. Employees come and go. Teams restructure. Titles shift. But the front desk remains.
In Silicon Valley, everyone is chasing the next big thing. From my chair, I see something quieter but just as important: the human side of ambition. The nerves, the ego, the exhaustion, the hope.
And every morning, when the glass doors slide open, I reset — ready to greet another chapter before it even knows it’s being written.