# Studying your own Way | Vera van Veen | TEDxHaarlem Salon Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k-I-mVDfdo Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/6k-I-mVDfdo Generated: 2026-02-20T17:03:41.339+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Vera van Veen shares her journey of launching an influencer agency in Haarlem at age 18, emphasizing that success comes from following your own learning style and ignoring external pressures about age or conventional paths like university, even when facing initial rejections. **Key Points:** - Vera van Veen started her influencer agency in Haarlem when she was 18, an idea she believed no one else had at the time. - She struggled initially because she was deemed too young (18) for internships or jobs, despite being financially independent from baking cakes for €20 per cake. - Her learning style, informed by her mother, involved learning through action and experience rather than solely from textbooks or listening. - She faced rejection when applying for an internship at a major Dutch influencer agency because she was considered too young and lacked the expected student life experience. - Vera emphasizes that one should follow their own learning style (reading, traveling, hands-on work) rather than conforming to societal expectations about age or conventional paths like higher education. - She learned that age is not a fixed barrier; being 25 now, she reflects that she was too young at 18 but realizes now that age doesn't dictate capability. ![Screenshot at 00:08: Vera van Veen, identified by an on-screen graphic, speaks into a microphone at the TEDxHaarlem Youth event, setting the scene for her story about entrepreneurship and learning outside traditional structures.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/6k-I-mVDfdo/00-00-08.jpg) **Context:** Vera van Veen presents at a TEDxHaarlem Youth event, sharing her entrepreneurial journey of starting an influencer agency despite being very young (18) right after secondary school (week 1, day 2 of secondary school mentioned in context). She contrasts her hands-on, action-oriented learning style, influenced by her mother, with traditional academic paths, highlighting the challenges she faced getting her first big break because she didn't fit the mold of a typical student. ## Detailed Analysis Vera van Veen recounts the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey, starting her influencer agency when she was only 18, right after secondary school. She recalls her early efforts selling cakes to local bakers for €20 per cake to fund her independence, noting that she already had the business idea when her peers were just starting university or struggling with their first hangover. A major setback occurred when she applied for an internship at a top Dutch influencer agency but was rejected because she was too young and hadn't experienced the typical student life, including student housing or partying. Vera argues that everyone learns differently—some by reading, some by traveling, some by hands-on work—and stresses the importance of following one's own path rather than adhering to societal timelines, such as needing to be 25 to be considered mature enough for a professional role. She concludes that her biggest lesson was realizing that age does not dictate capability, and she continues to learn daily through her business, which she started when she was 18. ### Early Ventures and Independence - Selling cakes to local bakers for €20 per cake to achieve financial independence - Started the influencer agency when she was 18, an idea she felt was unique at the time. ### The Rejection Barrier - Rejected for an internship at a major influencer agency because she was considered too young and lacked typical student experiences (student life, parties, student housing). ### Learning Philosophy - Learned from her mother to learn by doing and taking action, rather than solely through textbooks or listening; valued hands-on experience over theory. ### The Core Message - Encourages the audience not to follow societal expectations regarding age or learning methods if they don't fit their personal style, asserting that age (like being 19 or 25) is arbitrary regarding competence. ### Business Growth and Reflection - Her agency was initially focused on local businesses in her hometown of Meppel before shifting focus to social media services for larger companies; she still feels like the 18-year-old girl despite being 25 now. ![Screenshot at 00:04: The opening slide displaying the event branding: TEDxHaarlem Youth, along with sponsors Doops Gezind Haarlem, Stedelijk Gymnasium Haarlem, and JOPEN.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/6k-I-mVDfdo/00-00-04.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:29: Vera van Veen speaks into the microphone, identifying herself on screen as 'Vera van Veen' \(00:29\), describing her early work selling cakes.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/6k-I-mVDfdo/00-00-29.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:54: A wide shot showing Vera on stage in the venue, which features high wooden paneling, green accents, and large letters spelling out part of 'Haarlem' on the floor.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/6k-I-mVDfdo/00-00-54.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:16: Vera gestures while explaining how selling cakes for €20 daily, amounting to €11,000 in losses \(01:15\), wasn't the point of her effort.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/6k-I-mVDfdo/00-01-16.jpg) ![Screenshot at 05:56: Vera discusses receiving a job offer from one of the biggest influencer agencies in the Netherlands, which she ultimately did not take.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/6k-I-mVDfdo/00-05-56.jpg)