Meet Joshua Conlan | CEO & Co-Founder of D&J Events

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

Hi Joshua, how do you think about risk?
Without risks, or more to the point, without taking risks, it is almost impossible to achieve in life. By achieve I don’t necessarily mean in your career, taking risks extends to achieving in all levels of life. In love, friendships, family, career etc. Taking risks is essential to reaching that next level. We’ve all heard the sayings “think outside the box” and “take the leap”. Risk taking is ingrained in our society, but not everyone can bring themselves to do it. My best advice, from experience, would be to take the risk in good faith. I have achieved in life because I have taken many risks; in love, in my multiple careers and fundamentally in my decision making. I have been able to study, travel the world, meet many amazing people, experience many amazing cultures, grow my career and my confidence and live in different countries, all because I took the risk.

I’m now a resident, business owner and husband in a different country than where I’m from all because I took the risk. That doesn’t mean that I was never afraid of the risk I was taking, but I always had hope that no matter the outcome I would at the very least be able to learn valuable lessons. I’ll say it one more time, and I urge everyone, take that risk and achieve new levels in life!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am an owner and co-founder of a Miami based company called D&J Events. We produce exclusive, luxury events in both the corporate and social spaces. We set ourselves apart from other companies by giving 150% to everything we do from the overall production, right down to the smallest details. We make sure to keep open communication with our clients and we make ourselves always available. Doing this has allowed us to build long-term relationships with our clients and strengthen our relationships with our vendors as well. Top this off with two owners who love what they do, and we’ve managed to create the recipe for success!

We have definitely faced many challenges on the journey here, but our biggest asset was each other. I could not have done this without my business partner, Doron. We are like yin and yang most of the time, but that’s how we balance each other and the business. Doron and I started with a dream, a conversation about what could be and we worked really hard to make it a reality. In a short time from starting the business, a contact we knew gave us an opportunity and it grew from there! I’m so excited about the future of the business because we have so many amazing upcoming events and opportunities. We’ve been lucky enough to produce events in other cities as well, including New York.

My biggest lesson in this business has been to trust the process. I’m not going to lie, there were a few moments towards the beginning where it felt like we just weren’t gaining enough traction and I really questioned my decision to do this. But I managed to get myself in the right headspace, work hard and really trusted in the process. In doing so, I have undoubtedly made the right decision. Business takes time and things will never happen as fast as you want them to. You really need to put yourself out there and stick to your guns.

I would love the world to know that at D&J Events, we don’t just produce parties or corporate gatherings, we produce moments and memories. We produce happiness. We are two owners with a strong moral compass to do right by our clients and exceed their expectations of us. I’m excited and enthusiastic about what the future holds for us in Miami and beyond. We are a small business with big dreams!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok, so you don’t come to Miami to stay indoors. I would definitely plan trips to any one of the many beautiful beaches with beautiful Caribbean water or perhaps take them kayaking off of Miami bayside area to explore many of the little islands and sandbanks around. Experiencing Miami by boat, any kind of boat, is hugely recommended and always a great time.

Miami has a lot of beautiful pockets that need to be explored and each one different. South Beach, Brickell, Wynwood, Little Havana and the Design District to name a few. With a week in mind, it is also worth taking a road trip down to Key West.

South Beach provides a lot of great places to eat and drink. My favorite restaurant in Miami though, is called Lo de Lea Argentinian Grill. It’s on Biscayne Blvd and it’s just this tiny little restaurant with so much charm, amazing service and even more amazing food!

It’s so hard to pinpoint all of the amazing things to do in Miami, as there is always something on every week. That’s part of the beauty of it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people, places, stories and memories that deserve a shoutout in my story. If I had condense it though, I would first point to my Mother. Alongside wonderful family and friends, my Mom has not only been my biggest supporter in life, but my safe place and the person who has surrounded me in so much love that outside trauma often bounced off of me. None of our lives are easy or as simple as they may look on social media, but having even just one person who is constant can be your biggest asset in your happiness and everyday life. This, of course, then leaks through to all other aspects in life, including career paths.

The next person who more than deserves a shoutout, is my husband Dalin. Not only has he made me feel that I am loved and valued, but he has supported my journey in moving to the United States and my journey in creating my own business. This did not happen overnight, we committed to walking this path together and without him, I would not have been able to navigate my way to both a successful business and a sense of belonging. If it is your wish to do life with someone, then it is important to have someone who supports your dreams, no matter how difficult they may seem at the beginning.

Finally, I would like to give a shoutout to my business partner, Doron. We came together with an idea to create this amazing, luxury events planning and production company in Miami. It was a long shot and a dream, but we worked hard, took the risk and jumped in head first and now we have held events for Crypto Week and Formula 1 in Miami, just to name a couple. I am incredibly proud of how we have come together to create something magical for both of us. We love what we do and we are so excited to see what is next for D&J Events!

Website: www.dandjevents.com

Instagram: @dandj.events

Facebook: @dnjevents