Telisa Yancy, Vice President of Advertising, American Family Insurance

The Conqueror

By Brittani Banks

Telisa Yancy holds a top leadership position at American Family Insurance, a Fortune 500 company with revenue of $6.5 billion. She says her biggest obstacle has been striving for career success while dealing with long-term autoimmune disorder lupus.

Yancy got her MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University. She has had leadership roles with Burger King Corporation as the vice president of global media, entertainment and multicultural marketing and with Ford Motor Company as a marketing manager. It was during that time that Yancy became concerned about her health.

“I was working full steam when I was diagnosed with a form of lupus disease,” says Yancy. “The diagnosis prompted me to take a step back and reassess how health was number 10 on my list and it had to move to one.” By finding a way to balance her career and her fight against lupus, Yancy’s health has been on track for the past five years. What are her tips for other career women in similar situations?

“Take much needed ‘me’ breaks. Go to the spa. Read non-business related [books].” She also suggests taking time to exercise and make personal connections. Yancy calls family members her “life cheerleaders” and says when enters a boardroom, she brings thoughts of her “grandmother and grandfather, parents and husband” to give her strength.

What does Yancy foresee in her future? The expectant mother says, “All my career decisions are centered around the health of my baby and me.” She says it’s important for her to be “the best Telisa I can be – always working to reach my full potential.”