Black Enterprise Magazine named Madison-based American Family Insurance Chief Marketing Officer Telisa Yancy as one of the most powerful women in corporate America.
In its February 28 post, Black Enterprise editors honored 136 “fearless female executives who have managed both to stand firm in the face of hostile corporate environments and to take the bull by the metaphorical horns, powering their careers to the top.”
Yancy joins executives from companies like the Dallas Mavericks, Xerox, BP, General Motors, Starbucks and more.
Yancy joined American Family in 2009 after serving in marketing leadership positions at several companies, including Ford Motor Co. and Burger King. She has since overseen all branding, marketing and advertising activities for the company, including launching the award-winning “Dreams” campaign in 2011 and its numerous extensions. She also introduced the concept of inspirational brand ambassadors to serve as “dream champions,” and the company now has seven brand ambassadors, including Kevin Durant, Derek Jeter, J.J. Watt and Steve Stricker.
In 2016, Yancy was named to the prestigious EBONY POWER 100 list, along with many notable and influential leaders, including the Obamas, Michael Jordan and Beyoncé. She also earned spots on Savoy magazine’s 2014 list of Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America, and the 2016 Top Influential Women in Corporate America. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois and earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business. She was also named to the inaugural Black Power list of Wisconsin’s most influential Black leaders in 2016 by Madison365.
