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As a young founder, I often had to work harder to earn credibility with clients, partners, and investors who sometimes questioned my experience. In the beginning of my business that was definitely justified as I did not have much experience, but sometimes those judgements stay with you well into your late 20’s.

Rewarding: Proving people wrong and showing that age doesn’t define capability is incredibly satisfying.

Asa part of our series called “My Life as a TwentySomething Founder”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dan Miller.

Dan Miller is a self-made businessman from Derby, UK. He founded the successful student network and early careers attraction company Young Professionals at the age of 17 from his family home. Today he runs one of the largest student networks in the UK and has helped over 600,000 students connect with some of the world’s leading employers.

I founded Young Professionals when he was 17 years old, while in Year 12 and doing my A-levels because I felt that most school career fairs focused almost exclusively on university routes, and that there weren’t enough routes into work, apprenticeships, and employment. This made me want to run my own career fair where I would invite local large employers to showcase their career options for school leavers — which I did!

Over time my events went on to become bigger but my belief and values have not changed. I believe in social mobility and enabling students, regardless of background, to have access to real-world career opportunities, apprenticeships, work experience, and mentoring that might otherwise feel out of reach.

 

Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you since you started your company? What lessons or takeaways did you take out of that story?

One of the funniest moments since starting Young Professionals happened at an event we were running a few years back. I was juggling multiple roles, running around making sure that our stall was set up, looking through the agenda for the day and making sure I am ready to get on stage later as well as chatting with students. One of the employers that were exhibiting at the event mistook me for one of the YP volunteers. They handed me a stack of flyers and asked if I could help “direct people to their stall because it was looking a bit empty and they did not want their manager to see”.

I happily went along with it, working together with their own student volunteers. When they realized who I was, everyone had a good laugh.

The takeaway for me was simple but important: titles don’t define your character. Being approachable, hands-on, and willing to jump in wherever needed creates stronger connections with students and employers alike. It’s all about being present and engaged.

 

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

What really makes our company stand out is the strong connection we have with our students. YP has the largest student network and reach in the early-careers space, and that’s not just because of our scale, it’s because we’re genuinely accessible. Our relationships with students are personal, not transactional.

Even as CEO, I stay closely involved with the community. I attend as many of our events as possible, chat with students, take photos, and even jump into our Instagram DMs when I can. One moment that stands out was at a recent event: a student told me she couldn’t believe the CEO was the one who had replied to her DM a week earlier about building her CV. She said it made her feel seen, not just as another follower, but as an individual we truly care about.

Not many CEOs have that kind of relationship with their audience, and I think students can feel that authenticity. It’s part of why they trust us, engage with us, and stay connected long after the events end.

 

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

Since founding Young Professionals at such a young age, I’ve been incredibly grateful for the support of my parents, especially my dad. From the very beginning, he believed in my vision, even when it seemed ambitious for someone so young.

I still remember my first ever meeting with a potential client. I was nervous, and my dad drove me there, waited outside, and then drove me back afterward. He attended some of my early events too, cheering me on and giving me the confidence to keep pushing forward, even when things felt overwhelming.

His support gave me the belief that I could actually make Young Professionals a reality. Having someone who genuinely believed in me made all the difference in turning my idea into the company we have today.

 

Are you working on any exciting projects now?

Yes, there are a lot of exciting projects in the pipeline! The changing political landscape in the UK has been increasingly supportive of apprenticeships and helping young people enter the workforce, which is very positive for our industry.

We’re also expanding our graduate offerings, moving beyond our traditional focus on apprenticeships, which opens even more opportunities to support students at the start of their careers.

And there are a few other big initiatives in the works that we’re planning to announce in 2026, so there’s plenty to look forward to!

 

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

Our company’s entire ethos and mission is built around creating positive impact. We believe that students from all backgrounds should have access to the opportunities and knowledge about the wide range of careers out there. That’s why we’re committed to connecting these students with leading employers.

The impact goes both ways. For students, it opens doors and broadens horizons. For employers and the wider UK workforce, it brings diversity, talent, and fresh perspectives, strengthening society as a whole. In short, our success isn’t just about growth, it’s about using our platform to create meaningful opportunities and build a more inclusive, vibrant workforce.

 

Do you have a favourite book that made a deep impact on your life? Can you share a story?

Funnily enough, I don’t really read books. No business or self-help books, and I’m not into podcasts either. My inspiration comes from the students and clients I work with every day.

Throughout my career, I’ve made it a priority to really listen to their needs, their ambitions, and their challenges. That ongoing dialogue is what fuels my inspiration for Young Professionals and our purpose. Every time I hear a student’s story or see how an opportunity we’ve created changes someone’s life, it reminds me why we do what we do and that’s been far more impactful to me than any book ever could be.

 

Can you share 5 of the most difficult and most rewarding parts of being a “TwentySomething founder”. Please share an example or story for each.

 

1. Being taken seriously

Difficult: As a young founder, I often had to work harder to earn credibility with clients, partners, and investors who sometimes questioned my experience. In the beginning of my business that was definitely justified as I did not have much experience, but sometimes those judgements stay with you well into your late 20’s.

Rewarding: Proving people wrong and showing that age doesn’t define capability is incredibly satisfying.

2. Balancing confidence and humility

Difficult: You need to assert your vision while still acknowledging that you don’t know everything yet. I think this is a lifelong struggle for any entrepreneur or business owner.

Rewarding: Learning to listen, adapt, and grow while still driving the company forward are the best lessons.

3. Wearing multiple hats

Difficult: When you’re a young founder, you’re often CEO, marketer, recruiter, and sometimes even photographer all in one. I still to this day help set up the stalls at events, take photos with students, answer the occasional DM, and talking with employer.

Rewarding: It gives you an intimate understanding of every aspect of the business and builds resilience.

4. Managing self-doubt and pressure

Difficult: Being young, when everyone you are dealing with is often twice your age, it’s easy to question whether you’re “good enough.” It’s important to believe in your offering and your vision. Having a mentor or someone to guide you in the beginning is a big bonus too.

Rewarding: Overcoming those doubts and seeing growth in yourself and your team is very rewarding. Looking back to see how far I have come is something I should do more often.

5. Creating impact early

Difficult: With limited resources and experience, making a meaningful difference quickly can feel daunting. But I learned that the perfect time will never come and I will never be fully knowledgeable in every topic. You just have to dive in, believe in yourself and learn along the way.

Rewarding: When you do, the rewards are immediate and inspiring, you see your vision come to life and positively affect real people.

What are the main takeaways that you would advise a twenty year old who is looking to found a business?

My main advice to a twenty-year-old thinking about founding a business is simple — do it! The longer you wait, the harder it can get, because responsibilities and financial commitments tend to grow over time. There’s never going to be a “perfect” moment, and everyone’s circumstances are different, but the key is to give your idea a real, honest chance.

Starting young gives you time to experiment, learn, and even fail without it being catastrophic. Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, the experience and skills you gain are invaluable. The best way to see if it’s possible is to take that first step and just start.