This article is part of DBA, a series on Mashable about running a business that features insights from leaders in entrepreneurship, venture capital and management.

To the outside observer, Silicon Valley is filled with daily catered lunches and in-house masseuses. While these elements are generally a byproduct of a fiercely competitive recruiting market for top talent, they add to the misperception that Silicon Valley is a bastion of lavish perks.

The reality is that top talent wants the opportunity to make an outsized impact and needs an environment conducive to this goal. The cultural elements that don’t make the headlines are often actually the most influential on employee satisfaction and longevity. Read more…