My name is Loek van Balkom, and I am a student with a strong interest in business development, marketing, and innovation. I discovered the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) program through my school and decided to participate to gain international experience and develop myself in a real business environment.
During my exchange in Valencia, I worked in business development alongside the marketing team in a company with a strong family-like culture, which made it easy to integrate. I also gained valuable insight into the world of events and how they support networking, branding, and business growth.
In addition, I developed my own business idea focused on making grocery shopping more accessible through smart AI solutions. Although still in progress, this experience helped me better understand how to turn ideas into practical strategies.
During my EYE stay, I was mainly involved in business development, working closely with the marketing team. My tasks included supporting growth strategies, identifying opportunities, and contributing to the company’s positioning. In addition, I gained valuable insight into the world of events, where I learned how events contribute to networking, branding, and business growth.
The collaboration within the team was very positive. We had a strong and flexible way of working, which allowed us to adapt quickly and support each other when needed. The company has a family-like culture, which made communication open and informal, and helped me integrate easily into the team.
During my EYE exchange, I developed strong communication and collaboration skills by working in an international and multilingual environment. I improved my ability to adapt, take initiative, and work independently within a professional setting.
I also gained valuable insight into business development and the role of events in networking and company growth. This experience helped me better understand how different business functions are connected.
In addition, I expanded my professional network by building relationships with colleagues and industry contacts. These connections, combined with the skills I developed, create potential opportunities for future collaboration and career development.
This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow both professionally and personally in an international environment.