Our annual picks of the industry’s rising stars – a brave, bold group that’s trailblazing a unique path to success.

Johanna Gottlieb

Axis Promotions (asi/128263)

A veteran of the business for “11-and-a-half amazingly glorious, anxiety-filled, fun and crazy years,” Johanna Gottlieb, who runs the Chicago office for Axis Promotions (asi/128263), is who we all want as the spokesperson for the promo industry. “I love that every single day is different, and that this job will keep you on your toes,” she says. “I love the dance and coordination of unique campaigns. I love the thrill of meeting with clients. I love that Axis has a reputation for our agency approach. I love the thrill of prospecting – which is why I think Larry (Cohen, Axis’s owner/president) still keeps me around.”

Committed to spreading that love, Gottlieb recently spearheaded an initiative at Axis where she hand-writes thank-you notes to suppliers who go above and beyond. As you can imagine, among the rank and file of underappreciated suppliers, Gottlieb is a rock star. “I email everyone at Axis a few times a month and ask them to share a story about how a supplier or partner saved their day or got promoted and then I send a hand-written card to the person on behalf of Axis. It’s been really rewarding to make someone randomly smile – it’s such a nice train of gratitude and it’s been amazing to be part of this.”

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