Meet Hope Ladd

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hope Ladd a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hope, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I spent years working as a pediatric oncology nurse, which taught me a lot about resilience and purpose, but I always had this creative pull toward jewelry, beading, and vintage finds. Even as a kid, I asked for a cash register so I could play shop owner, and later I was always making and selling little pieces to friends and family. A close family friend helped me land on the name hip hope hoorah, and in 2021 I decided to really give the business my focus while still working part-time as a nurse. It grew steadily, and eventually I felt ready to take the leap and leave nursing to run my jewelry business full-time—a dream that started way back in high school finally coming full circle.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I run hip hope hoorah, a jewelry brand where every piece is handmade and often features vintage beads that can’t be found again. That makes each design feel one-of-a-kind, and I love that sense of uniqueness and history. A big part of what excites me about the brand is creating jewelry that’s versatile and inclusive—pieces you can dress up or down, that feel personal and customizable, and that truly work for anyone. Even though we don’t put it on a banner, we’ve always carried the belief that jewelry should be welcoming and fun for everyone, and we consider ourselves allies to all communities. It’s important to me that no one ever feels uncomfortable walking up to our table, trying on a piece, or just being themselves. Beyond the values, the creative process is always evolving: I’m constantly working on new designs, especially since vintage materials bring a sense of surprise to what’s possible. Right now, I’m especially excited about our website refresh and getting ready for the holiday season—we’ll be at Snowport in Boston from November through December, which is always such an energetic and inspiring time to connect with people face-to-face.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I think the three things that made the biggest difference for me were creativity, resilience, and connection. Creativity feels obvious with jewelry, but it’s not just about design—it’s also about problem-solving and finding ways to keep things fresh. Resilience came from my nursing background and carried over into running a small business, because things don’t always go as planned and you have to keep going anyway. And connection has been huge, whether that’s building relationships with customers, collaborating with other small businesses, or just making people feel comfortable and welcome at our table. For anyone starting out, my advice would be to give yourself permission to keep experimenting with your creativity, surround yourself with people who lift you up, and don’t get discouraged by setbacks—they’re usually just part of the process.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Honestly, my family has been such a big support system for me—they’ve always encouraged me to chase this dream and believed in me even when things felt uncertain. Beyond that, a lot of what I’ve learned has come from teaching myself along the way, whether through research, connecting with other makers, or talking with small business owners. The jewelry and fashion world moves fast, so I’m constantly learning, growing, and adapting right alongside it. I think that mix of support and self-driven learning has been really key in helping me overcome challenges and keep moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hiphopehoorah.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_hiphopehoorah/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiphopehoorah
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/HipHopeHoorah/