Dacy Yee isn’t interested in leaving Experian where she found it. As President of Experian Consumer Services, she’s steering the company toward a broader role in people’s lives—less scorekeeper, more partner. From programs that pull millions of consumers out of credit invisibility to experiments with AI that aim to simplify finance without eroding trust, Yee’s vision is expansive but grounded. Here, she talks about shifting Experian’s identity, setting guardrails for new technology, and how her personal history informs the way she leads.
You’ve described Experian’s evolution into a “Big Financial Friend” (BFF). What does that look like in practice, especially for the underserved?
When we shifted our focus to bringing “Financial Power to All” a few years ago, we knew we wanted to become the best consumer financial platform in the market, helping consumers throughout their financial journeys, beyond credit information. Historically, Experian has been known as a credit bureau, a legacy that we are proud of, but it is only a part of our story. Now, we have transformed the role that we play in people’s financial lives to a much broader relationship.
In practice, we hope that consumers at all financial stages will come to us for help with a variety of needs, including building a budget, saving money by negotiating bills, finding the right credit card, and monitoring and obtaining better car insurance rates. Like a best friend, we are here to support them throughout their financial journey. This can mean helping a consumer just starting out with no credit history establish an Experian credit profile or improving their FICO Score, which can potentially open up other financial opportunities, while at the same time supporting those who already have healthy credit and strong finances to maintain and protect their assets via our identity protection tools.
Experian Boost has improved scores for over 15 million consumers. What’s your next frontier in tackling credit invisibility?
We are pleased that Experian Boost has helped as many consumers as it has, and this number continues to grow. While our Experian Go program, which helps consumers who are invisible establish an Experian credit report, has allowed over 160,000 people to be visible. This isa real impact that is making a difference in people’s lives.
We aim to build upon these successes. As part of our innovation, we listen to consumers on an ongoing basis to meet their needs. As an example, we launched a feature called No Ding Decline that allows consumers to apply for credit cards in our marketplace without a hard inquiry if they are declined. This allows them to avoid a hit to their credit score if they are not approved.
We can’t divulge what is on our roadmap but we are certainly looking at how to leverage artificial intelligence in our platform and explore ways we can continue to personalize the product experience so our members are getting tailored and real-time feedback about their financial profile. This mission is incredibly important to us—we listen to consumers, understand their needs and expectations, and strive to meet them where they are while continuing to build trust through the products and services we bring to market.
You advocate using generative AI to serve consumers better. What guardrails are you putting in place to balance innovation with fairness and privacy?
At Experian, we believe generative AI has the potential to transform the way consumers engage with financial services by making information more accessible, personalized, and secure. Used responsibly, this technology can help simplify complex financial topics, empower individuals with tailored insights, and enhance protections against fraud.
But innovation must always be balanced with trust. As a global leader in data and technology, Experian is committed to putting strong guardrails in place to ensure that generative AI serves consumers fairly, transparently, and ethically. For example, our AI models are rigorously tested to detect and mitigate bias, with the goal of ensuring that the information we provide is fair and accessible. Within Experian Consumer Services, we embed these principles directly into our generative AI tools such as EVA, our AI-powered Experian Virtual Assistant. Every interaction is permission-based, monitored for accuracy and bias, and designed with clear disclaimers to ensure consumer remain in control of their financial choices.
As a minority woman and breast cancer survivor, how have your personal experiences shaped your leadership philosophy and corporate priorities?
My background has been a huge part of who I am as a leader. As a woman, as a person of color, as the daughter of immigrants, I connect deeply with the importance of financial power to a person’s lifelong success. Giving everyone the opportunity to have the tools they need to be financially secure, especially in a system that can be difficult to navigate, is vital.
As a cancer survivor, there are two major lessons I’ve carried with me ever since. First, life can change in an instant. We don’t always have as much time as we think, so it’s important to go after what matters to you, say yes to opportunities even if you don’t feel ready and let go of hesitation. Second, you are stronger than you realize. During that chapter of my life, I found that I can face and overcome really challenging circumstances. So now, when I am feeling intimidated or unsure of myself, I remind myself that I am capable, confident and can face whatever comes next.
My leadership philosophy is to stay true to who you are. Throughout my career, I have been known as somewhat of a quiet leader. It took me some time to find my voice and to realize I didn’t have to be the loudest person in a room to have an impact or be influential. When I saw the power in my leadership style, that leading authentically with confidence is just as effective as any other style, I really came into my own as a leader.
Leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. I believe the best leaders bring their own strengths and perspectives to the table, all while being true to themselves. That is at the heart of effective leadership. I hope to be an example of this not only for women, but aspiring leaders and others that I work with who may be trying to find their own voice. Hopefully, when they see me as a leader, doing things differently and still being effective and implementing change, it encourages them to take control of their path.
You emphasize actively balancing career, health, and family. What system or habits enable you to “be intentional about balance”?
For me, taking time for myself is very important. Scheduling that “me” time is sacred such as doing my morning yoga or workout or ensuring I have that quality time with my kids. Even small things like walking my dog are important to me.
Sometimes my schedule doesn’t allow time for everything, and I immediately noticed how much I miss the “me” time. So, I have learned to have a lot of respect for these little moments in the day that keep me happy and healthy.
You’ve encouraged women and underrepresented talent to “speak up early” and declare their ambition. What role do you believe male allies and leaders must play in this journey?
Having great allies of any gender is key to ensuring that women can get ahead and have successful careers. I have had many mentors throughout my career who have championed my success and have been there to help me navigate changes and make decisions. One male mentor, for example, advised me to explicitly proclaim what I wanted for my career. He said that until I was willing to say it, I shouldn’t expect to get it. I had so much hesitation at first in saying that I wanted to be a Chief Marketing Officer or President, but when I finally did, I could clearly work towards it. This allowed me to show others where my ambition lay so that they could support me along the way.
I have found that advocating for yourself is so important as well. I try to remind myself often that there is a reason why I am in the room, and that it is my job to speak up and make sure my perspective is heard. Even when it’s uncomfortable, and maybe most importantly when it is in fact uncomfortable, I want to make sure that I give my opinion.
Trusting yourself, your value and your contribution is a necessity. It doesn’t always come naturally to people, but it is worth it.
What does “worth beyond wealth” look like to you?
When I think about what “worth beyond wealth” means to me, I believe it lies in the positive impact we can have on others, including how we treat them and how we make them feel. You never know how far a moment of compassion, empathy or simply trying to understand others can go.
I strive to be someone who makes everyone feel like someone. If they feel helpless, I want to offer hope. If they feel stuck, I want to help them move forward and show them how far they’ve already come. If they feel accomplishment, I want to celebrate with them. To me, that is value that goes beyond traditional wealth.
