We had the good fortune of connecting with Scott Sueper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Scott, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
To be honest, it took me awhile to understand what upholding a “value” really meant, much less see how it can become a way of life. Sure, I came equipped with the golden rule as a kid like anyone else, but I really learned some hard lessons as an adult surrounding integrity, so that value became the core of how I operate in the world. From having bosses with poor leadership or dealing with chains of mismanagement, I quickly recognized that honesty was something pretty hard to come by in the workplace. People love to justify themselves, deny responsibility, or blame things on someone else. Now, in my 25th year of being an entrepreneur, I know that to have integrity means to live by your word and be willing to have any and every tough conversation. Be vulnerable in front of others and admit to your mistakes. Stand up for and compassionately defend your beliefs, hopes and dreams. All while giving others space to do the same. So, yeah, having integrity isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was lucky enough to have tons of mentors in life that really helped guide me through obstacles along the way. Really at every stage of my career, I had someone I trusted to get advice and ask questions. I’ve always operated better knowing expectations and being clear on the details, so being able to lean on friends and co-workers that understood was paramount to my growth. That’s also why I incorporate a mentoring program into my salon brand. It’s tailored to fit a stylist’s current skill level and aims to help them become more confident in advanced technical methods. Helping other stylists grow to their potential is an amazing reward in itself, but this also helps develop a higher quality and more consistent customer experience in the salon.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely have to hit the coffee scene to start our days since there are so many amazing ones to check out. Love a latte at Allegro or an Americano at Bloom if you’re in NW Denver. Lunch in the Highlands or on Tennyson street is usually sunny and chill with plenty of good options. Linger is popular for a reason, so are Parisi and Vital Root, but there are so many more. Other memorable stops- dinner at Beckon is to die for, Denver Botanical Gardens are gorgeous, and Rocky Mountain National Park is life changing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I spent a portion of my career working for L’Oreal learning to become a national trainer. While we parted ways years ago, it’s the mentorship and accountability I learned there that helped me become who I am and the success I’ve built in my professional life.

Website: ivyandoaksalon.com

Instagram: ivyoakdenver

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