We’re looking forward to introducing you to Hope Duong & Joelle Sy. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Hope & Joelle, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
We love the summer and have been enjoying a number of concerts, beach days, and dog walks!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, we are Joelle and Hope! We are the dynamic duo that make up the Succulent Scene – a creative succulent building experience!
We host Plant Parties! We bring all the custom materials, the succulents, and the party straight to our guests. Our events are for every type of group – your bridal shower, corporate team bonding event, girls night – you name it!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Honestly, we saw each other. As recent college graduates, we still had so much to learn and very few answers, but we recognized the potential in one another—the vision, determination, and grit to figure it out. That mutual belief became the foundation for launching a fun, unique business and growing it into what it is today!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Not give up, but our biggest initial roadblock was the pandemic – which, unexpectedly, opened the door to our greatest opportunities. Being an events company, a worldwide shutdown naturally affected our business. With groups and companies still searching for creative ways to connect, we began receiving multiple inquiries about virtual events.
After pouring countless hours into research and preparation, we launched our first virtual party—and it was a hit! The success of that event sparked a wave of new inquiries and propelled us into opportunities we never anticipated. This now opened up our local events company to a nationwide experience with virtual events becoming one of our most popular offerings.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I believe we used to think failure was something to avoid at all costs. Over time, we’ve realized that failure is often the clearest sign that you’ve tried something meaningful. Each setback gave us the opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. In fact, we’ve come to value the courage to take risks and embrace failure almost as much as the success that follows, because trying in the first place is what really drives progress.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
Probably with our dogs. Whether we’re letting them lead the way on a walk, watching them run in the grass, or just spending time at home together, it’s a space where the world slows down. The purity and spirit of a dog is so uplifting, and being with them helps us forget about everything else for a while 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thesucculentscene.com
- Instagram: @the_succulentscene
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theSucculentScene/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-succulent-scene-tustin-4
