A message on X led me to make the leap from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Having grown up in the suburbs of LA and cultivated my journalism career there—from covering local stories to diving into the world of cryptocurrency—life felt comfortable with friends and family nearby.
But in February, I received an unexpected direct message from the chief of staff at Corgi, an AI insurance startup that had recently gained attention for their ambitious seven-day workweek. Though I hadn’t heard of Corgi before, I noticed many in the crypto space transitioning to the AI sector, sparking my curiosity.
Just one week later, I traveled to San Francisco to meet the team, and by March, I began my new role as their Head of Brand. My life took a dramatic turn.
Relocating to San Francisco was like entering a new world with vastly different priorities.
Lee is Corgi's Head of Brand. Image courtesy of Erika Lee.
In this vibrant city, there’s an undeniable belief that AI is reshaping our future, and an intensity that may not be fully understood by those outside the Bay Area. There's a common feeling among tech enthusiasts that they're pioneering something significant.
Every day, I encounter individuals who have relocated from various parts of the country to join startups in San Francisco. Like me, they are ready to embrace considerable sacrifices for a chance to contribute to the next major innovation, akin to OpenAI or Anthropic.
In Los Angeles, networking conversations often began with questions like, "What's your Instagram handle?" Much of the dialogue revolved around personal connections, social gatherings, and online personas.
Conversely, in San Francisco, while social media presence still has value, the focus shifts. People tend to inquire about your LinkedIn profile or X account, with some skipping social media altogether to ask, "What are you building?" Here, the emphasis is on ideas, innovation, and tangible products, rather than social status or appearance.
Neither city lacks merit; rather, they prioritize different aspects of life. For now, I find satisfaction in the focused and driven atmosphere of San Francisco, where my productivity and motivation have soared compared to my time in LA.
My background in journalism has proven to be more relevant than I anticipated.
Stepping into this tech-heavy environment, I expected to feel out of place, often regarding myself as the least technical individual present. Silicon Valley is typically associated with engineers and entrepreneurs raking in millions, with discussions swiftly transitioning from product strategies to funding plans. At times, I questioned whether my skills had a place here.
However, I soon recognized that I was mistaken. In an era dominated by AI, the competition lies in crafting narratives that resonate and evoke emotional connections. Storytelling has become an essential component of industry infrastructure. Companies like OpenAI have demonstrated the burgeoning demand for innovative storytelling roles that help clarify their technologies for both executives and consumers.
Rippling is on the lookout for a Head of Storytelling to define its editorial voice, while Notion has established a dedicated storytelling team. With access to similar technological tools, the edge increasingly belongs to those who can weave together ideas, interpret cultural nuances, provide context, and narrate compelling stories. The relevance of the humanities in the AI age is not diminishing; in fact, it may be more critical than ever.
Despite my new location, I still hold fond memories of Los Angeles. Image courtesy of Erika Lee.
My journalistic training, adept at filtering essential information amid a flood of content and elucidating complex subjects, has been invaluable in shaping Corgi's brand narrative.
Switching industries doesn’t mean relinquishing beloved skills; it can mean rediscovering them in novel contexts.
Although I miss many facets of life in Los Angeles—proximity to family, the familiarity of well-loved neighborhoods, and the ease of catching up with friends at favorite coffee spots—my move to San Francisco has pushed me to grow in ways comfort never could. This transition was not merely geographical; it was an immersion into a radically different environment. I find myself among individuals who genuinely feel they are part of one of the most critical technological transformations in our time.
Whether these sentiments hold true in the future is still uncertain, but as a journalist accustomed to observing change from a distance, I am grateful for the chance to be in the thick of it.
Like many others, I willingly uprooted my life to engage in this once-in-a-lifetime movement. Despite the uncertainties, long work hours, and emotional costs that my departure from LA entailed, I am thankful I took that cold message on X to heart.
