We recently connected with Lexi Janis and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lexi, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

My Journey to Founding Amore Influence

Backstory: I was balancing a full-time corporate role in influencer and media relations at a public relations agency while also running my personal brand on Instagram (@lexandthecity____). By day, I was mastering the intricacies of influencer marketing for world-renowned brands like Toyota, Impossible Foods, Danone, Groupon, and Lexus. By night, I was building my own presence as an influencer, taking on brand partnerships of my own and forging connections with other creators who saw me as both a peer and a resource.

I felt unstoppable—until a social media friend and fellow influencer reached out. She said, “I feel like I could be monetizing more with my brand, and I think you could help. Would you be interested in managing my brand deals?”

At first, I said no.

I was juggling what felt like two full-time jobs while planning my wedding. The idea of adding another responsibility seemed laughable. Besides, I wasn’t a fan of managers. They felt transactional, impersonal, and rigid. “Me? A manager? Absolutely not,” I thought.

But the idea wouldn’t leave me alone. I realized this could be the creative venture I’d always wanted. If I could set clear boundaries, maybe I could make it work. So, with nothing but a personal email address and no formal structure, I decided to help.

I took on my first client.

What started as a favor quickly turned into a mission. I wanted to redefine the management industry—approaching it with empathy, strategy, and the collaborative spirit I’d honed in agency life. I was at an interesting turning point in my corporate role: Clients wanted to speak with me directly, asking me to lead calls and handle critical projects. I realized I had a knack for client service and relationship building. I thrived on connecting with people, whether it was calming nerves before a big pitch or commanding a room during a presentation.

That first client led to another, then another. I negotiated five-figure deals, built meaningful partnerships, and grew my confidence along the way.

I’ll never forget the moment I closed two five-figure deals in a single day. I ran into the bedroom to tell my husband, who was already a seasoned entrepreneur. “If I can do this part-time,” I said, “imagine what I could achieve if I dedicated myself fully.”

Between my personal brand and management consulting, I was earning more than what I was making at my corporate job. The decision was clear: I had to try.

I gave up my upcoming sabbatical—an incredible, paid month off after five years at the agency—to chase my dream. And just like that, Amore Influence was born.

Today, Amore Influence has grown beyond what I could have imagined. I now lead a team of four incredible employees and represent 19 influencers on our roster. We’ve hosted our first panel event and generated over six figures in revenue for our clients in 2024.

On a personal level, I’ve become a proud mother to my 15-month-old son, traveled the world with my husband, and continue to build an agency I’m deeply proud of.

This journey has been everything I dreamed of—and more. For that, I am endlessly grateful.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I founded Amore Influence in 2022, driven by my passion for advocating for influencers within the creator economy and my love for building strong relationships. With over eight years of agency experience in public relations and influencer marketing, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible brands like Toyota, Lexus, Groupon, Impossible Foods, GE Appliances, and Danone.

As a manager, influencer, and marketing professional, I bring a unique perspective to the table. I deeply understand the challenges influencers face and what brands are looking for across the ever-evolving influencer landscape. My knack for relationship building allows me to connect seamlessly with agencies, brands, and influencers, ensuring that every partnership is mutually beneficial and genuinely exciting.

At Amore Influence, we specialize in connecting talent with brands that align with their unique goals and values. From concept to completion, we handle everything from influencer management and brand pitching to negotiations and overall campaign execution, servicing our talent, brand, and agency partners with equal dedication and enthusiasm.

With our diverse talent roster, we create customized solutions for every client, forging impactful partnerships and driving success within the creator economy.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The cornerstone of our business is rooted in consistently positive feedback from all sides: our talent and our agency/brand partners.

Talent
Operating in the influencer marketing industry, the emphasis is on influence. An incredible 98% of our new talent comes through client referrals. Many of these creators have experienced frustration with previous management, and I’ve made it my mission to change that narrative. As someone who is also an influencer, I deeply understand the challenges they face and bring that empathy into my work. I view my role as an opportunity to make a meaningful difference, and I never take that responsibility for granted. Managing talent is a delicate process, and I’m committed to paving a better path for those who trust us with their careers.

Brands & Agencies
From the start, my vision was to create a management agency where brands and agencies don’t just enjoy working with our creators—they love collaborating with us as a team. At the end of the day, we’re all people trying to accomplish our goals, and fostering mutual respect is key. Our efforts have paid off: more than 50% of our business each month comes from repeat brand partners. Why? Because we prioritize being efficient, strategic, and dependable, ensuring we make their jobs easier while delivering outstanding results. This commitment to excellence keeps our partners coming back. On top of that, our partners can feel the passion and thought we put into our business. We love what we do.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

When I started, I was the only manager at my agency, supported by two assistants helping with execution. From the beginning, I prioritized building a team that shared my enthusiasm for exceptional client service. While managing a roster of 19 influencers, I took every opportunity to teach my team everything I knew about influencer management. My goal was clear: to develop my employees into full-fledged talent managers so I could focus on what I do best—building relationships and networking—while ensuring our clients always felt supported. Even as I stepped back from day-to-day management, I stayed closely involved, providing dual-manager support to our clients.

My advice? Invest in your team and their strengths.
Help them understand the “why” behind your processes. Explain the purpose behind what you do repeatedly until it clicks. Take the time to hop on calls, walk them through your decisions, and encourage them to find their own rhythm and perspective. Empowering your team with knowledge and insight allows them to grow while building confidence in their abilities.

Maintaining high morale starts with transparency.
My team knows exactly how much the agency earns because their hard work contributes directly to our success. When we negotiate a six-figure deal, we celebrate together. When things go awry, we laugh, regroup, and focus on solutions. Our team is small but incredibly close-knit. While some may caution against blending friendships and business, I value the trust, humor, and grit my team brings every day. They’re not just colleagues—they’re people I genuinely respect and enjoy being around. This mutual respect and dedication are at the heart of our strong team dynamic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amoreinfluence.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amoreinfluence/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amore-influence/

Image Credits

Photography taken by Andres Ortiz, The Studio Chicago