View from Silicon Valley

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I recently passed a milestone at terrifying speed; a year working in San Francisco has flashed past in the blink of an eye. That day, my team asked me what had surprised me the most about relocating here. It was interesting to reflect on the preconceptions I arrived with, and what the reality is. I thought I’d share a couple of these and, hopefully, they’ll offer some insights into the cultural differences between UK and US clients or agencies.

Preconception 1: In the home state of Hollywood, storytelling will be a more important strength to develop as a researcher than in the UK. 

Reality: Wrong! The truth is that clients and agencies here feel much more academic than their British counterparts. Of course, communicating research in a persuasive, compelling way is a huge priority in whichever market you travel, but there’s a big difference in what you are expected to demonstrate. It’s much more common in ...