Janice Christensen, President of nora fleming, is transforming the gift industry with an innovative approach to home decor, emphasizing engagement and personal expression. Since her start as the company’s first employee in 2004, she has devoted 13 years to cultivating the brand alongside its founder, Nora Fleming. Throughout this time, she has been pivotal in developing its exclusive product line and establishing a unique mix-and-match identity for the brand within the market.

Driven by a profound belief in the transformative power of thoughtful gifting, Christensen inspires her team to explore the intentions behind each gift, reinforcing and nurturing the relationships they symbolize. 

Over the past decade at this Chicago-based company, Christensen has steered Brand Strategy, Product Development, Marketing, and Communications, successfully elevating the brand to international recognition and multi-million-dollar revenues. Her exceptional ability to curate and market the brand’s proprietary collection has set the brand apart, reshaping the experience in both the giving and receiving of gifts.

Christensen’s visionary approach also extends to her anticipation of the evolving dynamics of the industry. She champions the integration of technology to enhance operational efficiency, advocates for diversified leadership, and supports initiatives that enable creative individuals to re-enter the workforce, infusing the industry with new perspectives.

As a working mother, she is dedicated to forging pathways for parents re-entering the workforce, aiding them in leveraging their unique skills, reintegrating into professional environments, and making impactful contributions. And as a student mentor, she is infusing an entrepreneurial spirit into emerging leaders in her local community and beyond.

Her inclusive mindset is shaped by her previous experience as a World Languages High School Teacher and is enriched by her heritage as a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines. Her academic background, including studies at Spain’s Universidad de Sevilla, a Master of Education (M. Ed.) from National Louis University, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, blends theoretical knowledge with practical insight. And as a devoted wife and loving mother to three sons, she adds an intuitive understanding to a people-centric business from the invaluable perspective of a mother.

Christensen is actively shaping the industry’s future. In her multifaceted role as a leader, educator, mentor, and innovator, she is crafting opportunities as vibrant and inclusive as the communities she serves.