Gia Huynh shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Gia, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Time with my babies
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Gia Huynh, founder of Silky Gem, a Vietnamese crystal candy company. Our handmade candies are crunchy outside, soft inside, and have grown a global following of over 1.7 million fans in just three years.
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2. Journey – How You Got Started
I started Silky Gem during the COVID lockdown with my baby while working during the day as a nail tech from 8-7 and come home be a mom then started to work on my candy from 10-3Am everyday. After 3 months What began as a small kitchen project turned into a brand people connected with worldwide.
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3. Challenges – Biggest Obstacles
Scaling a handmade product has been tough. The candy requires time, space, and care — and balancing that with motherhood has been my biggest challenge.
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4. Mission / Purpose
To bring joy, comfort, and a sense of wonder through candy — and to show that big dreams can come from small beginnings.
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5. Impact – On Community / Customers
Our community of 1.7M+ across social media shares that our candy helps them relax, celebrate, and find joy in simple moments. That connection is what I value most.
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6. Current Focus
We’re focused on limited-edition drops, new retail partnerships, and creative projects like ASMR storytelling and merchandise.
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7. Future Vision
To make Silky Gem a global household name for joy and creativity, expanding beyond candy into lifestyle and media.
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8. Advice – Lessons Learned
Don’t try to do everything alone. Build support, ask for help, and stay consistent even when progress feels messy.
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9. Personal Touch – Something Unexpected
I still cut candy by hand with my team. It keeps me grounded and connected to the craft.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up in a traditional Vietnamese household taught me As a child, I believed I had to stay quiet and blend in to be accepted. Over time, I learned that my voice, ideas, and creativity are my greatest strengths. Today, I embrace standing out — it’s what allowed me to build my business and connect with millions of people around the world.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me patience, humility, and strength in ways success never could. Success feels good, but struggle showed me what I’m truly capable of — that I can endure, adapt, and keep moving even when life feels impossible. It gave me gratitude for every small win and a deeper connection to others going through hard times.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
An important truth I believe is that failure is not the opposite of success — it’s part of it. Most people try to avoid failure at all costs, but I see it as the path that teaches you the lessons success never could.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I would stop worrying about perfection and other people’s opinions. I’d spend more time with my family, create boldly, and leave behind work and memories that show love, resilience, and joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.silkygem.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silky.gem?igsh=YXozbWlkanpiZTV2
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silky-gem-0b7651274?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GYN4KifF9/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@silkygem?si=iN2xaWgrNFv4KKaY
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@silkygem?_t=ZT-8zKyB8X3o2x&_r=1
