#40 Dee Ann Turner, Retired VP of Talent at Chick-fil-A

Women & Work: Stepping into Kingdom Productivity

Dee Ann is a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to retirement, she was Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability for Chick-fil-A, Inc. Selected as the company’s first female officer in 2001, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems.

During her long career, she worked closely with Chick-fil-A’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, and other key leaders as an architect of their organizational culture. Turner was responsible for thousands of selections of Chick-fil-A Franchisees and corporate staff members. Additionally, she led Talent Management, Staff Learning and Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Culture and Engagement. Prior to her retirement, she launched and led Chick-fil-A’s Sustainability and Social Responsibility function.

Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, writing books, speaking to over 50 audiences per year and consulting and coaching leaders globally. She is the author of the best sellers, It’s My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture (2015), Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture and Win the Hearts of Customers (2019), and Crush Your Career: Ace the Interview, Land the Job and Launch Your Future (2021). She also hosts the Crush Your Career Podcast and is the Talent Expert in Residence at High Point University.

She is a graduate of Clayton State University with a degree in Management. She also completed executive education courses at Emory University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School. She is a 2009 alumna of the prestigious Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Dee Ann has been married to her husband, Ashley, for 38 years and they are the parents of three grown sons. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for Booster Enterprises and Oak Dental Group. Additionally, she is an advisor to several non-profits. When she is not traveling, she can often be found on her Peloton bike in her home outside of Atlanta or on her stand-up paddleboard at Lake Hartwell in northeast Georgia.

LINKS:

https://www.deeannturner.com

https://www.facebook.com/DeeAnnTurnerAuthor

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeannturner/

https://www.instagram.com/deeannturner/

https://twitter.com/DeeAnnTurner

In this episode, Dee Ann shares with Courtney and Missie:

– How she began her career at Chic-fil-A 38 years ago as a pastor’s wife

– How to create in your own organization the culture of care that Chic-fil-A has become known for

– How to find, select, and retain good talent in your business or organization

– Character traits that make employers want to hire you for the job

– 3 steps for success in the first 90 days on a new job

– How women can succeed in a male-dominated work environment

– How she views her work through a Christian lens

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

It's My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture

https://amzn.to/3unFWwd

Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture That Wins the Hearts of Customers

https://amzn.to/3UsM2FW

Crush Your Career: Ace the Interview, Land the Job, and Launch Your Future
https://amzn.to/3VNqa9C

Crush Your Career Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crush-your-career/id1553498036

Thank you for listening. If this content is helpful to you as you seek to live out your God-given calling to His glory, please donate today to help us continue to produce more inspiring content!