40 Under 40, Class of 2025

Kenny Nguyen

PlantCon International

President and founder

What 3 to 4 professional and/or personal accomplishments are you most proud of?

To have met possibly the most critical need in our horticultural community — shepherding in a new generation of plant parents into the industry.
I’m proud to create a space where Millennials and Gen Z like myself can feel authentically represented and considered within the horticultural and houseplant event industry, and to be cultivating the next generation of plant hobbyists and enthusiasts. Our average team age is around 25 years old.
In under two years of operation, PlantCon has become an annual event in four major cities: New York City, Houston, Dallas and Orlando with Atlanta, Chicago, LA and more in the works.

What led you to work in the horticulture industry?

I have two pet rabbits and have always kept a small culinary herb and veggie garden for them and for cooking. I had a couple of houseplants here and there, but during the pandemic, I discovered a local online houseplant community in Houston, and that sent me down a quick and slippery slope. I amassed a collection of over 300 plants in a little under three months and saw a huge need for in-person events where we could connect the community.

I have always gravitated toward community leadership despite being an introvert, mostly because I love to put my head down and create for the benefit of communities to which I belong. I started to plan local plant meetups, which evolved into local pop-up markets called Houston Plant Market and Swap (we still do two to three each month) and then into PlantCon in its final and current form. I didn’t see many spaces for young plant enthusiasts to connect, so that’s why I made PlantCon.

What’s the best thing about your job? (Please select one)

Describe to a 6-year-old what you do in life?

We get to host a big plant party for over 5,000 plant people — and we get to do it four times a year. We help small businesses grow by giving them a place to display their craft, and we work with the coolest team ever.
We’re turning this dream into a living so we can finally support mom and allow her to stop working. She’s turning 68 this year and still works. It took a long time, but we’re finally getting there. There’s nothing else we would rather be doing.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Video games. As a major introvert, I love to turn my brain off with a cozy game like Stardew Valley, Hello Kitty Island Adventure or Pokémon.

When you’re not working, what are 2 to 3 things we could find you doing?

I will most likely be out in our rooftop garden, tending to our herbs, veggies and trees, and getting as much sunlight and air as I can.
If I’m inside, I’m watching the newest episode of Severance or Survivor or playing with our English bulldog and rabbits.

Do you have any unusual talents, or can you tell us something interesting about yourself that other people may be surprised to find out?

I was an architect in my previous life. The skills that I learned in planning, graphic design, presentation and speaking lent themselves to this new world of event organization and community leading.

One thing you can’t live without?

My team. I have the honor of working with the most enthusiastic, passionate and caring people on this planet. Each and every one of them cares so deeply about PlantCon and the plant community, and make significant sacrifices from their own lives and work other jobs or side hustles to be able to dedicate time volunteering their work and skills for PlantCon.

What are you (un)secretly good at?

Believing in people. Maybe to a fault. I place a lot of faith in others to be as honest and hardworking as I strive to be, and that has been both a superpower and a kryptonite. I wouldn’t ever change this though, because it takes faith and love to help others achieve their full potential.
I’ve had to learn to pull the reins a bit after being taken advantage of a few too many times, but my goal is always to find the potential in people and believe in them.

What are your top three bucket list items?

What’s your favorite plant variety and why?

I have a tie between Hoya kerrii and Hoya polyneura because of all the cool genetic mutations that can be collected and cultivated (high splash, full splash, inner variegation, outer variegation, spotted variegation, green, yellow, white variegation).

You’re buying a vacation package to anywhere in the world without a budget, where are you going?

I would take a three- to four-month trip to Japan, traveling from Hokkaido down to Okinawa. A top to bottom journey through Japan has always been a dream of mine. I would love to stop by and visit different growers and greenhouses along the way, along with as many natural onsen, nature trails and aquariums as possible.