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Her work at the Mead Corporation did not go unrecognized; eventually Yancey would be put in charge of the Organizational Learning and Development Department.
Following 13 years of professional success, Yancey received a personal surprise - her first baby was on its way. She was back at work shortly after her daughter Briana's birth, calling the juggling of work and her family "business as unusual." Yancey, who was working full-time and constantly traveling, struggled to meet the demands of both her business career and her new job as a mother.
A year and half later, Yancey decided it was time to step out on her own.
Yancey started her own consulting firm, specializing in leadership management. The firm gained professional notoriety and she soon had assignments with world-renowned companies such as AT&T, LexisNexis, The Coca-Cola Company and The Wall Street Journal.
Never a fan of the networking arena - or that women had to "act like men" to get ahead - Yancey saw a different vision for her corporation. "Men and women communicate differently," she says. Her vision was a place where both genders would connect and communicate in their own way. From that, eWomenNetwork was born.
Officially opened in the fall of 2000, today there are 85 eWomenNetwork chapters across North America. Some of its 12,000 members and 40,000 online members reside in places as far away as Iceland.
The network is always expanding, welcoming new members and new ideas. When American Express Financial Advisor Ruth Vivrett heard Yancey speak at an event, she was so impressed that she sought the speaker out afterwards. Vivrett now works with the eWomenNetwork, offering financial education to its members.
Yancey is "the most genuine person I've ever known," says Vivrett. "Her passion for women … just makes you want to be with her." To Vivrett, the success of eWomenNetwork is in large part due to how Yancey makes success a collaborative effort. "She's very clear in what she wants to accomplish," says Vivrett. "She is so confident in her vision, so she is willing to be flexible on how she implements it.
"It doesn't hurt," Vivrett adds, "that [she] and her husband are each other's strongest supporters." Yancey's husband, Kym, is the president of eWomenNetwork.
Yancey sees the collaborative nature of the group as something like a sorority - a sort of gathering spot with an eye on community service.
With community service in mind, Yancey created the eWomenNetwork Foundation, the non-profit branch of the network. The Foundation "has a commitment for the community and to raise money to … address the issues of health, wellness and safety of underprivileged women and girls," Yancey says.
Each year the eWomenNetwork Foundation chooses causes to champion. This year, Yancey's organization will give a total of $30,000, to be distributed among 10 non-profit groups. In 2005 the Foundation's focus will shift to capital funding for women in business. It's being called the "micro-integrity lending program," says Yancey. "We are willing to take a risk on women with good 'personal credit.'" Recognizing that access to capital is among the biggest obstacle facing women who want to become entrepreneurs, the Foundation will grant loans ranging from $500 to $5000.
Also a motivational speaker, Yancey has released the CD "Increase Your Net Work by Developing Your Network." The CD is a "step-by-step guide of the purse power of women - how to connect, how to build the core constituents in your network," says Yancey, whose energy could rival that of the most eager salesperson. "It's loaded with real-life tips and techniques of building a network. It defines the difference between contacts and connections."
As if her plate weren't already full, Yancey can be found hosting her own Dallas-based radio show, broadcast at 820 FM. The eWomenNetwork Show gives voice to inspirational business women and best-selling authors from across the nation, creating a forum where guests and listeners can converge and share their business struggles, successes and visions.
"My job is to make you glow," Yancey says. "Glow is that thing that is invisible. You can't see it, you can't touch it, but you can feel it. Women that glow stand out. Women entrepreneurs glow because they are going after their passion."
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