Vanessa J. Yanez

Delivering corporate reputation and influence contributing to the bottom line.

Core Skills

  • Corporate reputation & crisis communications
  • People leadership & development
  • Reframing corporate challenges via insights
  • Fostering shared-value collaborations across stakeholder groups
  • Building productive, motivated, ethical & inclusive teams
  • Driving organic growth

Known For

  • Firsts and bests
  • Enterprise-wide impact
  • Bringing others along
  • Integrating AI + Communications

Awards

87 awards and shortlists

AI Research Communications — Best in Federal Reserve System, 2025

"Visionary Leadership" — PRSA Silicon Valley, 2022

"Silicon Valley Woman of Influence" — 2021

Experience

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

SVP External Communications & Public Information Officer

Federal Reserve System Chair, Public Information Subcommittee

Previous roles: GVP, VP External Communications

April 2022 – Present

Leads external communications for the largest Federal Reserve District serving 70+ million Americans; $8.1M budget and a team of 30. Charged with modernizing Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and System communications.

  • Known for clear communications, blueprints, understandable impact metrics. Results-driven and relentless in finding efficiencies.
  • Expert in "audience-first" reputation management and digital attention strategies, crisis communications, executive messaging, insights, influencer, opinion leader and media relations.
  • Creative in visual and experiential communications, enhancing both internal and external engagement and significantly boosting message value and recognition.
  • Driver in executive and staff AI education, generative AI workflow integration and measurement frameworks.
  • Chairs System-wide efforts promoting transparency, communications best practices and risk mitigation strategies.

Key Accomplishments 2025

  • CEO and President Mary C. Daly is recognized as the top Federal Reserve expert on LinkedIn. Q3, highest performing content ever.
  • Architected and launched the "Value of Reserve Banks" initiative — now >50% of FRBSF online content; increased System-wide social media visibility: +24%.
  • Impact metrics: Bankwide newsletters grew +15.7% (public sector average 7%), open rates 46.1%; SF Fed digital channels +3.7%; Search +6.6%.
  • Bank known as the best in Technology, GenAI and labor market research. Launched first GenAI focused SF Fed EmergingTech Economic Research Network in under eight weeks.

HP, Palo Alto

Global Head of Brand Activation · Global Head of Print Communications · Head of Worldwide Corporate Communications

March 2016 – March 2022

Global Head of Brand Activation

Led the Brand Activation Center of Excellence, creating a unified brand story and signature platform positioning HP as a lighthouse brand. Managed high-profile strategic partnerships and PR initiatives with a $3.5M budget.

Global Head of Print Communications

Directed communications to influence perception and preference for HP's print products across 10 priority markets and 166 countries. Led a team of nine to deliver integrated leadership and product communications, optimizing an $8M annual budget.

Head of Worldwide Corporate Communications

Revitalized interest in the HP brand through innovative corporate messaging and engagement strategies, managing a $2M budget.

Key Achievements

  • Established a cohesive brand narrative, enhancing HP's market positioning and reputation.
  • Successfully drove global campaigns that increased customer engagement and brand loyalty.
  • Maximized budget efficiency across global communication efforts, ensuring impactful results in competitive markets.

FleishmanHillard, San Francisco

SVP & Senior Partner — Americas, SF Technology Practice / Key Account Customer Relationship Manager

February 2011 – February 2016

Global Omnicom PR Agency — Seamlessly balanced priorities between driving technology business expansion, leading the IPO team, and managing P&L for key accounts including Visa Inc., Fitbit, and Avaya.

Early Career

  • SVP, Global Client Service Director — Dell, AxiCom Americas, 2008–2011
  • Sr. PR Manager — Corporate Media Relations / Technology Solutions Group, Hewlett-Packard, 2004–2008
  • Sr. PR Specialist, Sun Microsystems, 2004

Education

San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA

Bachelor of Arts — Broadcasting & Electronic Arts, 1994

Affiliations & Community Leadership

  • Founder, "The Quarterly" Communications Network, 2024
  • Past President, PRSA Silicon Valley, 2023–2024
  • President, PRSA Silicon Valley, 2019–2023
  • Host, PR Industry Weekly Event and Podcast #FridayForum, 2020–2022
  • Co-Founder, Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network, 2010