Meet the Team: Therese
Ever wonder who’s behind Hive? Meet the people shaping Hive from the inside out!
In this edition of Meet the Team, we’re introducing Therese Veith, Team and Executive Assistant at Hive.
Therese’s kindness, wit, and thoughtful organization help keep our community running smoothly. From her roots in street activism to her reflections on collaboration and hope, Therese’s story reminds us that impact is built one connection at a time.
What brought you to Hive?
I discovered Hive during my first year with Effective Altruism Austria. At that time, I was organizing street outreach events and had just started thinking more about effectiveness and strategy. When I first joined Hive, I was in awe. It felt like a huge resource full of inspiring and effective people. At first, I felt a bit intimidated as I felt too "normal" - I was just a regular animal rights activist doing street outreach. But soon, my mindset shifted and I began volunteering for Hive.
What’s something you’ve learned from the Hive community?
One thing I’ve learned from the Hive community is how powerful collaboration and openness can be. People here are so willing to share their time, ideas, and experience to help others grow or move projects forward without expecting anything in return. It’s a genuinely kind group of people working together for a better world for animals. Hive gave me a real sense of community and the feeling that, together, we actually have a chance to make a difference.
What is one local organization you’re excited about that gives you hope for the farmed animal advocacy movement in your region?
I actually am excited about the work Plant-Based Universities is doing! Kevin highlighted their work too so I’ll go with a smaller initiative instead.
Another initiative that I think is really cool… Friends of mine started hosting charity dinners where they cook, and guests donate, and the money then goes to ACE-recommended charities. I really love this idea, so sometimes I make the dessert for them. They do it every month, and once they even raised almost €800 in a single evening. For me, it’s a beautiful reminder that you don’t have to work in the movement to make a difference.
What’s one thing in your environment that inspires you or reminds you why you do this work?
What inspires me most are the animal advocates around me. My best friends, my boyfriend, and my mother are all deeply involved in animal advocacy, and I’m so grateful to be surrounded by them. I also get inspired by people I see on social media and by the amazing community on Hive. Stories of rescued animals motivate me as well; they remind me that I want this kind of freedom and safety for every animal.
What’s one way you recharge outside of your advocacy work?
I love cooking and grocery shopping, especially at farmers’ markets or when scouting supermarkets for new vegan products. I also enjoy going out to eat and trying new dishes. To recharge, I also like being active and spending time outdoors, and hiking is one of my favorite things. I also love connecting with animals and basically want to pet every animal I see.
You've been fairly involved with in-person community building before - what are the key differences you are finding between in-person and online community building?
In in-person community building, communication flows more naturally, you see each other more often, and it’s quicker to build real connections. There’s also a kind of spontaneity that’s hard to recreate online, those random chats before or after an event, or just bumping into someone and starting a great conversation.
Online, on the other hand, you can reach many more people and grow a network much faster. It’s amazing how global and accessible it can be, even if it sometimes takes more effort to keep the connections alive.
If Hive had an official song, what do you think it would be?
I’d pick “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars, because it really fits Hive. You can always count on the community here. And also because I used to listen to that song on repeat when I was a kid.
One last question: What is your most overused emoji on Slack?
My most over-used Slack emoji is ☺️ I love using this to soften every message and I have to admit that a message without an emoji is lacking something for me.
That’s Therese
Therese’s journey is a reminder that behind every thriving community are people who care deeply about each other, about animals, and about creating a better world together! We’re so grateful for the hard-work and heart she brings to Hive every day.
Stay tuned for more Meet the Team stories coming soon, as we continue to highlight the people at Hive.
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