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The 17th annual SUCCESS Partners University, held at the Dallas Omni Hotel April 7-8, once again provided a platform from which C-level executives and guest speakers shared insights and information with the more than 600 registered guests. The two-day program was packed with presentations and panels and emceed by author and speaker Tony Jeary.
Day One’s agenda included author and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk’s insights on the continuing changes that the Internet and social media are bringing to businesses as well as presentations from direct selling executives.
SUCCESS Partners Founder and CEO Stuart Johnson moderated a CEO Panel that included Scott Schwerdt, Regional President of Nu Skin; Angela Chrylser, CEO at Team National; Dave Wentz, CEO at USANA and Brian Connolly, CEO at AdvoCare.
After lunch, DSN Ambassador John Fleming interviewed new company CEO Tyra Banks, who has launched an eponymous beauty brand and was both an attendee to the event as well as a speaker. The afternoon also included a panel discussion on social selling, moderated by Fleming, and presented by Cindy Monroe, CEO of Thirty-One Gifts; Brett Blake, CEO of Origami Owl; and Mike Lohner, Chairman of Stella & Dot. Former Co-CEO of Primerica and now best-selling author and SUCCESS Leadership Editor, John Addison ended the day with a keynote that drew upon his recent book, Real Leadership. Encouraging the crowd to build on their strengths, shine their light on others and focus on what they can control, Addison said the key question for a leader should be, “Are people better because I have been in their lives?”
Day Two of the event was kicked off by CNN commentator, author and speaker Mel Robbins, who challenged the audience to change their lives in five seconds by taking a small action at the point of hesitation in order to create meaningful change in one’s life.
DSN’s Publisher and Editor in Chief Lauren Lawley Head also took the stage to present the research gathered during the DSN Best Places to Work in Direct Selling project in conjuction with Quantum Workplace. Lawley Head discussed how companies can increase profitability through employee engagement and shared insights into the project’s findings.
Later in the morning, Lawley Head moderated the Services Panel, asking questions of Bouncer Schiro, the former CEO of Stream who has now returned to his prior Stream board position; Jeff Bell, CEO of LegalShield; and Robert Stevanovski, Co-Founder of ACN.
Additionally, a video wherein Lawley Head interviewed Co-CEOs Jason Camper and Paul Gravette of Le-Vel was shown. The two discussed the company’s growth in 2015.
The evening of April 7 was dedicated to the seventh annual DSN Global 100 Celebration Dinner, where the 2016 Global 100 ranking was unveiled to a packed room.
Le-Vel, with a 254 percent year-over-year growth, took home the Bravo Growth Award, and Oriflame CEO Magnus Brännström was chosen at the 2016 Bravo Leadership Award winner.
This year’s list represented companies from 17 countries and a combined revenue of $82 billion. Forty companies on the list achieved over $500 million, and the top 20 each achieved $1 billion or more in annual revenue during 2015.
The evening also included special recognition for former Publisher and Editor in Chief John Fleming from both Lawley Head and Stuart Johnson. The first ever DSN Lifetime Achievement Award recognized Fleming for his contributions in building DSN over the past 10 years to be the respected publication that it is today.
