In my early twenties, I buried myself in startup books by Silicon Valley authors, including Zero to One by Peter Thiel, The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, and Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson, among many others. These books captivated me so much that I spent five years launching and running my own startups before joining the Daytime MBA program at Fuqua.

To me, Silicon Valley represented a kind of magical ideal. So, when I heard about Fuqua’s Tech Trek to the San Francisco Bay Area organized by the Duke MBA Tech Club and the Career Management Center (CMC), I knew I had to go. Traveling thousands of miles from Indonesia, I saw this as my rare chance to test if my imagined Silicon Valley lived up to the hype.

The trek was an opportunity for me and 40 other first-year students to visit iconic tech companies. We made stops at Meta, Google, Adobe, Netflix, and PayPal — and I even organized a stop at LinkedIn myself. Along the way, I uncovered some surprising truths about the myths I once believed.

1. “Silicon Valley is untouchable.”

I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome offered by Fuqua alumni and the network of professionals working at companies across Silicon Valley. My visit to Silicon Valley felt like returning to a hometown, where you can reconnect with like-minded individuals. The conversations were genuine and flowed naturally because, at our core, we shared the same passion for technology and Team Fuqua as part of our DNA.

Here’s what I learned about interacting in Silicon Valley, be intentional. While some people may speak to impress, I found that approaching conversations with genuine curiosity fosters stronger connections. I wouldn’t have met these incredible individuals if not for the Tech Trek, so my advice to others would be not to hesitate to seek insights or offer help, even if you feel a bit like an impostor. Everyone has unique value, and this became clear to me in the Bay Area, where people’s expertise in their respective products or functions is highly regarded, often more than their degree, background, or upbringing.

Building a sense of belonging here requires effort from both sides, but based on my Tech Trek experience, people are generally approachable and open to meaningful conversations.

2. “Silicon Valley will make you rich.”

I don’t know about others, but I’ve always had this impression shaped by news about tech companies’ IPOs, founders’ zero-to-hero stories, and the like. While these stories can be true, I’ve come to realize they are one-in-a-million cases. Achieving such success requires more than just determination, tech innovation, or whatever else you can name.

From what I’ve learned through Fuqua’s network in Silicon Valley, the team is what truly matters. You can have a brilliant vision, but without people who are both willing and capable of bringing it to life, you can’t achieve much. This reminds me of the famous quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

People in Silicon Valley understand the value of teamwork, and I’m grateful to be pursuing my MBA at Fuqua. Through its curriculum, career recruitment process, clubs, and everyday interactions, I’ve learned so much about the importance of collaboration.

3. “Tech is all that matters.”

I intentionally saved this point for last to emphasize that Silicon Valley is more than just tech; it’s a hub for innovation across diverse fields, including culture, arts, education, sciences, business, and, of course, talent.

While I enjoyed the opportunity to experience Waymo’s driverless car for the first time in San Francisco, I found myself even more curious about the nuances of talent needed to achieve such groundbreaking innovation and how I can contribute to the advancement of technology.

Silicon Valley isn’t just home to coders or AI data scientists; it’s a gathering place for all kinds of like-minded individuals working together to create a better future for the world.

I still have a few myths about Silicon Valley that I hold onto, but I’ll save those for my next visit.