A Face On A Screen

by Margaux Joly, Customer Experience Coordinator at Techstars

There are 21 of us on the Community team, running Techstars Startup Digests, Techstars Startup Weeks, and Techstars Startup Weekends, and we not only run programs all over the world, we are all over the world, from Sao Paulo to Kuala Lumpur, passing by Berlin and waving all the way from Omaha. Then there are all our other colleagues at Techstars, in finance, marketing, and more, who make what we do possible.

A 24 Hour Clock

Our team functions as a 24 hour clock. By the time I get into work, some of my colleagues are finishing their day. And while I enjoy my post-lunch tea, brainstorming my afternoon tasks, the other half of my colleagues are beginning their day. Our work is a well oiled entrepreneurship machine, each player representing an essential gear. It helps us achieve all that we need and keeps us on our toes.

But what’s missing are the morning chitchats at the coffee machine asking about someone’s evening, or the ability to make plans to hang out together after work. Sometimes it’s hard to not just feel like a face on a screen.

The Best of Both Worlds?

Most of the time, I feel like I have the best of both worlds. I’m based in a coworking space here in London, with a handful of other Techstars employees, working alongside the current Techstars London accelerator program. Three of my team members are here with me, available in person all the time.

But sometimes I feel the strain of being part of such a distributed team. I don’t get a lot of actual facetime with everyone else. There’s an intimacy that comes from spending workdays together, and I found that I craved that additional knowledge of my colleagues around the globe.

Cottages and Peacocks

Fortunately, once a year our team gets together for a whole week. This year, we all met in Mayfield Sussex (in the countryside). We slept in cottages and met some peacocks. Our days were busy presenting, brainstorming, and debating. Everyone had a chance to speak.

The week was rewarding, and I left leaving feeling more up-to-date and aware of our roadmap for the next couple of months. The entrepreneurship ecosystem is so fast changing, our team is at an interesting point where we need to adjust our internal systems to keep up with the changes. There have been quite a few new hires this year (me included!) and I really felt that everyone fell in place and knew what was ahead of us.

Actual Facetime

Beyond the terrific work we did, what was the priceless for me about the retreat was seeing everyone’s quirks and mannerisms. I cherished the opportunity to hang out with my colleagues and get some actual facetime. I know them so much better now, as much, much more than a face on a screen.

Now, typing this, I’m back to my London ways, happy to be back to my screen and back to the routine — excuse me while I dip this biscuit into my tea.