From Graduation to Silicon Valley: My First Career Chapter

From Graduation to Silicon Valley: My First Career Chapter

Starting my career after graduation felt like stepping into the unknown. I wanted a role that would challenge me, help me grow, and feel meaningful. My experience at JustPaid has done exactly that and more.

From Graduation to a Fast-Moving Startup

Starting my first job after graduation felt like stepping into a completely new chapter. I went from classrooms, assignments, and exams to real work that is public, impactful, and constantly evolving.

Working at JustPaid has been my introduction to the fast-paced world of startups. Instead of feeling like I am doing small or isolated intern tasks, I have been trusted with meaningful responsibilities that shape how the company communicates its brand and story. I have supported social media content, blog drafts, founder-led storytelling, podcast promotion, short-form video content, product tutorials, and broader brand messaging.

Seeing my work go live publicly, and knowing it contributes to brand awareness and growth, has been incredibly rewarding. It has made me feel like a real contributor rather than someone observing from the sidelines.

Learning to Communicate Complex Ideas Simply

One of the most valuable lessons from this role has been learning how to turn complex ideas into clear and relatable stories.

JustPaid builds AI-powered tools that simplify billing, invoicing, and revenue operations. Being close to an AI-driven product has helped me understand how emerging technology is applied in real business environments. Instead of viewing AI as something abstract or intimidating, I have seen how it improves efficiency, supports better workflows, and helps companies operate more effectively.

A big part of my role involves translating technical product features into content that founders, landlords, and finance teams can easily understand. This has strengthened my ability to simplify complexity, maintain clarity, and communicate value in a way that feels human and practical.

Applying My Master's in Business Analytics to Marketing

My academic background in Business Analytics has shaped how I approach marketing.

Even when my work focuses on content and storytelling, I bring a data-driven mindset to decision-making. At JustPaid, I have been exposed to marketing analytics, audience insights, content performance tracking, and experimentation. This has helped me better understand how data informs messaging, creative strategy, and optimization.

Being able to connect analytics with marketing has reinforced my interest in working at the intersection of data, creativity, technology, and business. It has shown me that analytical thinking and creative storytelling can complement each other rather than exist separately.

Working Directly With Founders and Learning How Startups Operate

One of the most impactful aspects of this role has been the opportunity to work closely with the founders.

Instead of being removed from leadership, I have been able to contribute ideas, support founder storytelling, refine messaging, and help shape how their vision is shared publicly. Watching how founders think, prioritize, test ideas, and make decisions in real time has been one of the most valuable learning experiences of my early career.

This has given me a behind-the-scenes look at how startups actually grow. I have learned how quickly ideas move from concept to execution, how experimentation plays a key role in momentum, and how ownership and speed matter in early-stage companies.

Personal Growth as a New Graduate

This experience has helped me grow in ways that go beyond technical skills.

As a new graduate, it is easy to feel unsure about whether you belong in fast-moving environments. Working at JustPaid has helped me build ownership, adaptability, and confidence in my ability to learn quickly and contribute meaningfully. It has taught me to take initiative, communicate more effectively, and approach challenges with curiosity instead of hesitation.

It has also helped me better understand the type of work culture I thrive in. I enjoy fast-moving teams, creative problem-solving, founder-driven environments, and spaces where experimentation is encouraged and impact is visible.

How This Experience Is Shaping My Future

Looking ahead, this role has strongly influenced how I think about my long-term career.

My Master's in Business Analytics gave me a foundation in data, problem-solving, and analytical thinking. My experience at JustPaid has shown me how those skills can connect with marketing, AI-powered products, and startup growth. Moving forward, I am especially interested in roles that sit at the intersection of data, marketing, product, and technology, where I can combine analytical thinking with creativity and business impact.

This experience has clarified that I want to continue building in environments that are innovative, fast-paced, and mission-driven. I want to stay close to technology, contribute to meaningful products, and use data and storytelling to help companies grow.

Enjoying the Journey

And honestly, this journey has been genuinely fun.

No two days feel the same. Some days I am writing content, others I am brainstorming campaigns, editing videos, refining messaging, supporting launches, or learning more about how AI-driven tools shape business workflows. The variety, the pace, and the people have made this a fulfilling and exciting start to my career.

For a first job after graduation, this experience has been a strong foundation. It has shaped my confidence, sharpened my perspective, expanded my understanding of startups and AI, and helped define the direction I want my career to take.

Summary

I'm grateful for the learning, the people, and the growth this role has given me. It has been a powerful start to my career after graduation. And I'm looking forward to what comes next.