Yael was born in Syracuse, grew up in Edmonton and studied new media at Ryerson University, Toronto. While she was there, she developed a passion for photography and music and even hosted her own student radio show based on interviewing musicians, this in turn led to taking pictures of the artists. After leaving Uni and her college radio show behind, she began directing promos for many of the bands she had been photographing. She soon found herself working with many talented Canadian kids such as Broken Social Scene and Hayden as well as artists such as Eagle-Eye Cherry abroad.
Since then, her passion for film has evolved and she is now fully immersed in the world of commercials, directing spots for clients such as Dove, Clorox, Tetley and Esso through DDB, London.
In 2003 she was runner up at the Saatchi and Saatchi First Cut Awards.
In 2005 she featured in the Short New Directors Reel 2005 and the Shoot New Directors Showcase 2005 and was the first Canadian female director to win a Cannes Lion for the ALS Society of Canada's 'Hugging' spot.
In 2006 she directed 'Dove Evolution', a film which totalled over 7 million hits on youtube alone.
In 2007 hits turned into prizes and she picked up a raft of awards for 'Dove Evolution', including Best in Show and Gold Single at the 2007 Marketing Awards, a Gold Pencil at the One Show 2007, a Gold’ Bessie, a Silver Clio and finally the Grand Prix at Cannes 2007.