Meet the Young Innovators Shaping Direct Selling’s Future
June 20, 2023 Beth Douglass Silcox
In June 2023, Neora had several corporate team members featurds in the Direct Selling News 40 under 40 list! This article highlights the achievements of our Co-Founder and Chief Sales and Marketing Office Amber Olson Rourke, Director of Product Development Juliana Rochelle, and Senior Director of Information Technology Uzma Azim.
Constant marketplace change keeps the focus of most DSN content on how companies rise above challenges. We interview founders and C-Suite executives to talk about industry trends and progress, shifting business models and compensation plans, rebranding and tech and compliance and product development. The list goes on and on.
Less frequently, do we feature the young, corporate standouts who so prominently figure in getting all those things done. But that changes with this issue, as DSN recognizes—for the first time ever—a group of innovative trailblazers, whose contributions push their companies’ trajectories upward, while reshaping the direct selling channel for the rest of us.
More than two dozen companies answered the call to nominate their most accomplished achievers under the age of 40, who exemplify the kind of leadership skills and innovation that best represents the future of the direct selling channel.
And to that end, we proudly present the 2023 DSN 40 Under 40—a group of youthful standouts, who are rockstars in their current roles—vocal champions of direct selling with just the right balance of knowledge and enthusiasm to ultimately lead the industry.
Their day-to-day contributions help their organizations navigate the changing marketplace and they constantly impress. It matters not what field these stellar people represent—be it IT, marketing, training/field development, product development, customer service, HR or even the C-Suite itself—each has won the admiration and respect of their peers and bosses, alike.
Amber Olson Rourke
Co-Founder & President
Amber Olson Rourke is a force at Neora—a passionate creator, marketer, mentor and visionary. She’s a tireless, natural-born leader, who cares about her work, home office teams and the field she supports, empowering people to “own what we do and learn from it—and her,” shared Beth Hisey, Director of Marketing.
After earning a BA in business marketing from University of Florida, Amber began her career in marketing/advertising, which was invaluable to learning how to craft a compelling story and create a brand that resonates with consumers. She also owned and operated a medical spa, giving her an up-close, small business perspective.
Amber has an amazing eye for details—from graphic design layouts to messaging to comp planning. She boils big concepts down into a language that suits her audience and provides direction with clear, actionable steps. Always on top of social trends, marketing perspectives and changes in relationship marketing, Amber’s never afraid to try something groundbreaking. “Her inherent intuition of the business is enviable and admirable,” said Beth.
Her future? According to Amber, the path is clear. “Continuing to evolve Neora to meet the ever-changing landscape of how people want to work and shop. And continuing to be an example to my three girls that they can achieve anything they want with hard work fueled by belief and passion.”
Juliana Rochelle
Senior Director of Product Development
Juliana Rochelle earned amazing global knowledge in brand marketing and product development at L’Oreal for a decade before transitioning to Neora in 2021. “She brings innovation and a keen eye for market trends. Juliana is fearless, collaborative, forthcoming and insightful,” Beth Hisey, Director of Marketing, said.
Her skills as a collaborator with Neora’s formulation partners means Juliana is constantly testing and pushing the team to go further.
“I absolutely love what I do!” Juliana said about the exciting and fulfilling freedom she has to develop products that respect a disruptive innovation pace. “A lot of times in this industry you see companies growing mechanically. Here, I’m not tied to a specific launch window that a retailer pushes on me, so I have the freedom to work with R&D labs and push a formula until I know I have hit something that delivers outstanding results, no matter how long it takes.”
Juliana said of her boss and mentor, Amber Olson Rourke, “She has such a clear vision of what her brand needs to stand for and the non-negotiables of her consumer base, and it has helped me greatly to transition into this new industry. It’s easier to work for someone that shares your same values and vision.”
Uzma Azim
Senior Director of Information Technology
For more than a decade, Uzma Azim has been the face of technology at Neora, collaborating to bridge gaps between challenges and technological solutions, something she finds deeply satisfying. “I find fulfillment in leveraging the power of technology and innovation to streamline manual tasks, enabling both myself and my team members to devote our attention to more engaging and fulfilling work.”
“Uzma has a very valuable gift of explaining very complex IT ‘speak’ to actionable steps across all departments,” Beth Hisey, Director of Marketing, shared.
Proof is the recent, successful Neora website revamp, where Uzma and her team were tasked with a heavy workload and short deadlines, while balancing usual day-to-day demands. The project was important to bring more ease and a better user experience for customers, brand partners, as well as prospects.
Software development experience early in her career—and the desire to learn more—led to a graduate degree in computer science by 2016, which was instrumental to her flourishing career, growth and advancement at her first direct-selling experience at Neora.
There, she met a remarkable mentor in Deborah Heisz, Co-CEO of Neora and CEO/Co-Founder of Live Happy. “With her vast oversight of various business domains, there is always something new for me to grasp and learn. Her guidance and mentorship have been invaluable in shaping my professional growth,” Uzma said.
