Denise Lee Yohn

Denise Lee Yohn is the go-to expert on brand leadership for national media outlets, an in-demand keynote speaker and consultant, and an influential writer. 

Denise is the author of the bestselling books What Great Brands Do: The Seven Brand-Building Principles that Separate the Best from the Rest (Jossey-Bass), Extraordinary Experiences: What Great Retail and Restaurant Brands Do, and FUSION: How Integrating Brand and Culture Powers the World's Greatest Companies (Nicholas Brealey/Hachette Books). 

With her expertise and inspiring approach, Denise has become an in-demand keynote speaker on building great brands and exceptional organizations. She has addressed business leaders around the world at corporate events such as Facebook, NFL, and Lexus, and conferences including the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), The Art of Marketing, and Sustainable Brands. 

News media including CNBC, FOX Business TV, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR call on Denise when they want an expert point-of-view on hot business issues. 

Denise enjoys challenging executives to think differently about brand leadership in her regular contributions to Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Smartbrief on Leadership, and has been a sought-after writer for publications including Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and Knowledge@Wharton among others. 

Denise initially cultivated her brand-building approaches through several high-level positions in advertising and client-side marketing. She served as lead strategist at advertising agencies for Burger King and Land Rover and as the marketing leader and analyst for Jack in the Box restaurants and Spiegel catalogs. Denise went on to head Sony Electronic Inc.’s first-ever brand office, where she was the vice president/general manager of brand and strategy and garnered major corporate awards. Consulting clients have included Target, Oakley, Dunkin' Donuts, and other leading companies. 

Outside of her professional roles, Denise counts hiking to Everest Base Camp, dancing with a professional ballet company, and solo-flying a helicopter as some of her greatest life experiences.