One of the truisms at DMi is that our people power our success. Strategy, vision, and processes are part of the picture, but our people are the magic that makes it all happen.

In October, Associate Director of Partnership Development, Liz Hoover took home the “One to Watch” award at the Global Performance Marketing Awards in London. The fact that it was an international event is fitting; Liz has been the architect of our fast-growing international affiliate service, which has provided so much value and expertise to our clients expanding beyond the U.S.

The very best part of my role is watching our people grow and accomplish things that they questioned the possibility of, so allow me a few hundred words to brag about Liz Hoover: her accomplishments and the impact she’s made on this team, the industry, and myself.

Investment in People: It Pays Off

For so many reasons, Liz is someone I like to refer to when talking about the amazing people at DMi. Professionally, she has been promoted four times at DMi; with each promotion, she has taken on more responsibility, team leadership, and ownership over the strategic positioning of our partnership development team.

Years ago, Liz made a very difficult decision to spend some time on the brand side, which meant she would be parting ways with DMi. It was a heart-wrenching decision for both Liz and DMi (most especially me), but we supported her through that transition and were ultimately excited about all of the knowledge she would glean on the brand side working for one of the largest retailers in the world. We trusted Liz to do what she thought was best for her career and held out hope that one day she’d find her way back to DMi.

At the end of the day, being “people-powered” means that DMi supports what is best for the growth of our employees – even if that means it might not always be what’s best for us as a company. We stayed extremely close with Liz throughout her time on the brand side, and when we had a Team Lead position open up, we knew there was no better candidate than Liz. She agreed, and she has since combined her agency and brand expertise to expand her role to her current Associate Director position.

Partner, Leader, Teammate

As mentioned, Liz came to us as a Partnership Development manager and through four promotions has grown to take on a much larger leadership role on the team. Seeing her grow day by day has been one of the most rewarding parts of my job, and it speaks volumes to one of DMi’s core differentiators: our unique approach to the partnership ecosystem.

Having some of the industry’s most talented people (Megan Neri, Sari Palumbo, Stephanie Rozina) lead that team alongside Liz creates a powerhouse that I believe is unrivaled in this industry. Liz being recognized for this award represents more than her amazing talent and incredibly diligent approach; it represents the remarkable team that stands behind her. We’ve celebrated a lot of wins at DMi over the years, and each one is the product of many people.

The Client Benefits of People Power

Part of the impact Liz delivers to our clients is early-adoption opportunities, specifically beta tests with publisher partners that have helped them gain market share and revenue. Liz’s relationships have additional dividends on the media side; because of the connections she’s developed, our clients have received lots of organic exposure from major media partners.

Our Other Cultural Tentpole: Creating Opportunities for Growth

One of our brand promises at DMi is creating opportunities for growth: for our team members, clients, and partners. Liz’s emergence as a leader will have incredible benefits throughout our team (which is full of future “one to watch” candidates). For one, her proteges get the chance to learn from her expertise every day. For another, as Liz helps build our international and influencer practices, there will be more opportunities for the people on her team to grow their careers in those fields.

What Now?

There’s plenty of room for the affiliate industry to evolve, and I see Liz both leading the evolution and being an advocate for the industry as it climbs to new heights. She has spearheaded the recruitment of many partners into the industry – while acting to consult with those partners on ways to maximize their affiliate revenue – that have not only benefited DMi but the industry at large. It’s clear Liz’s work doubles as her passion project, and I believe her expertise and drive, combined with her ability to build connections, will have a lasting impact on the affiliate space. I’m forever grateful for the impact Liz has made at DMi and on our team here and excited for what the future holds for her here.