He Got a Google return offer. Here is why he said no.
How Kelvin Fens went from door-to-door sales at 19 to account executive at an AI startup and his advice for internationals in the Netherlands.
Kelvin Fens is 24 years old. He has managed a team of 40 people, studied in Tokyo, interned at Google in Dublin, and just turned down a return offer from one of the most sought-after employers in the world to become the first non-technical hire at a VC-backed AI startup in Stockholm.
He's also one of the most thoughtful people you'll meet about careers, LinkedIn, AI, and what it actually takes to stand out.
Aiva spoke with him from Dublin, days before his Google internship ended and his next chapter began.
Starting before everyone else
Kelvin didn't wait for university to figure out what he wanted. At 17, something happened that changed his perspective completely.
He was a boxer. During training, a punch to the stomach caused a serious internal injury. He spent one month in intensive care and another three months in a hospital in Rotterdam.
"From that point on I was like, I should get the most out of life possible."
At 19, Kelvin was already leading the sales team at a door-to-door sales company, managing professionals who were already 32, and that was quite tough sometimes. But everyone has their first time, he says.
Building a career by building the right habits
When Kelvin started at Tilburg University, he didn't just study. He became a teaching assistant, gave lectures as a third-year bachelor student, went on exchange to Waseda University in Tokyo, and worked as a research assistant while there. He also picked up Japanese along the way.
Wherever Kelvin goes, he does more than the minimum, he's genuinely curious about what's possible.
"I just try to find what gives me energy. If it drains me, it's not worth it. If it energises me, I can handle a lot more of it."
When he started his internship at Google's Dublin office, he set up coffee chats with people senior to him. He asked to shadow client calls. He used conversations with colleagues as an opportunity to learn more about their roles and responsibilities.
"I ask a lot of questions. People at Google worked really hard to get there. So I ask them, how did you do it? What would you do if you were in my position?"
How he got the startup offer
A senior leader gave a lecture at Google Dublin. At the end, he asked the audience to pitch an AI idea. Kelvin took an opportunity, walked to the front and pitched.
The speaker connected with him on LinkedIn afterwards. Said he thought Kelvin would be a good fit as a founding account executive at the company he was building. Flew to Dublin to interview him and made him an offer.
"If I hadn't landed the internship, I wouldn't have been in that session. I wouldn't have known about the company. It's all intertwined."
The startup is called Epiminds. Backed by two Silicon Valley VCs. Founded by ex-Google and ex-Spotify. They automate digital marketing end-to-end with AI. Kelvin will be their first non-technical employee.
A simple take on LinkedIn
Kelvin's LinkedIn profile is well built, clear and professional. When asked where that came from, his answer was refreshingly direct.
"It's kind of common sense. Every time you meet someone at an event, you exchange on LinkedIn. If your profile isn't properly set up, it shows you're slacking in your professional career."
He doesn't overthink it. He doesn't schedule LinkedIn time. He connects with people he meets in real life, the next day at the latest, while he's still fresh in their mind. He posts when he has something relevant to say. He scrolls in his downtime.
"I spent about a day setting it up properly. After that you just update it in your free time. It doesn't have to be a big thing."
His advice to anyone hesitant about LinkedIn: "It doesn't take that long to do properly. And the cost of not doing it is way higher than the hour or two it takes."
What he thinks internationals get wrong
Kelvin studied international business alongside many expats. He's watched them navigate the Dutch job market and he has a clear view on where they hold themselves back.
"A lot of internationals think certain doors can't open for them. Because they're not Dutch or because they don't speak Dutch. But that's the wrong way to look at it."
He sees being international as a genuine differentiator.
"You've lived in multiple countries. You took the step to move abroad. That shapes you in a way that's different from someone who has always been here. If you know which companies value that, it's an asset."
His international friends from Tilburg have gone on to JP Morgan, multinational tech companies, and global finance roles.
Where he sees things going with AI
Kelvin is about to spend his career at the centre of AI-driven automation. He thinks clearly about what that means for anyone starting out.
His approach to staying ahead: use AI for everything you can, as early as you can.
"If you back away from it, everyone who uses AI can do your job better than you. Then you are not a top performer anymore. So you always have to be on the forefront."
He uses it daily, for research, for data collection, for understanding industries and contracts and targets faster. When he signed with Epiminds, he had to absorb an enormous amount of new information fast. AI helped him do it without burning out.
"It can give you a very fast course on how to get knowledgeable on something. That used to take weeks. Now it takes hours if you prompt it well."
One more thing
Kelvin offered something at the end of our conversation that felt worth sharing.
If you are early in your career, especially in tech sales or AI, and you are genuinely driven, he is open to a conversation. You can find him on LinkedIn and mention The Happy Expats. He'll make time if he thinks he can add value.
"I got a lot of help from people ahead of me. I'm happy to pass that on."
Kelvin's story is a reminder that people who move fast are usually the ones who say yes before they feel ready and figure the rest out on the way.
If you're an international professional in the Netherlands thinking about your next move, we would love to talk.
Book a free intro call with The Happy Expats coaches and let's figure out where to start.
