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Dee Ann Turner® shared thisWhat did my early experiences at Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center teach me about leadership? Check out this article from Women We Admire as I share what I learned about decision making, mentoring and more. #leadershipDee Ann Turner® shared thisWe’re proud to spotlight three inspiring women from our community this week: Patti Fletcher, Kimberly Lewis, and Dee Ann Turner. Dr Patti Fletcher brings a bold perspective on leadership, transformation, and the systems that shape women’s careers. Her insights on identity, strategy, and creating real change make her a powerful voice for leaders navigating growth and disruption. Kimberly Lewis shares a deeply grounded approach to leadership through service, mentorship, and workforce development. Her work at Goodwill Industries of East Texas reflects a strong commitment to creating opportunity and helping people build pathways to lasting success. Dee Ann Turner® offers decades of wisdom shaped by her experience building culture and developing leaders at Chick-fil-A and beyond. Her perspective on character, preparation, and leading with purpose makes her story especially meaningful for aspiring women leaders. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gsYycbH6Women We Admire Leadership Spotlight Series - Women We AdmireWomen We Admire Leadership Spotlight Series - Women We Admire
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Dee Ann Turner® shared thisThe difference between an average customer experience and one you never forget is usually one team member who cares. This past weekend, I took my almost 90 year old mother to visit her grandson in New York City. She has not traveled by air in several years, so this trip felt significant from the start. Before he moved, my son had a standing weekly dinner with her on his way home from work. She wanted to see where he lives now and experience a small part of his new life. From the moment we arrived at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, people treated her with kindness and patience. Delta Air Lines and their flight attendant, Vanessa, continued that experience. Mom felt cared for every step of the way, and that matters more than most organizations realize. In NYC, one person made the weekend unforgettable. When we arrived at the Lotte New York Palace, Jorge checked us in. I told him why we were there and that this trip took more out of my mom than it once would have. He listened carefully, and he understood the assignment. When we opened the door to our room on the 19th floor, I could immediately tell it was not what I had booked. The curtains opened to a direct view of St. Patrick's Cathedra . My mom stood there for a long moment just taking it in. That would have been enough. But later, we needed a wheelchair so my son could take her to Central Park to see the cherry blossoms. My original plan had fallen through. Jorge stepped in without hesitation and made sure we had what we needed. Each time I saw him, he asked if everything was going well and if there was anything else he could do. He paid attention, followed-through and even though he was working very long hours, he stayed engaged. What made it even more meaningful was that it was not just Jorge. One of the team members cleaning the lobby stopped to talk with us and shared that she had worked there for twenty years. She said, “they take good care of us.” I could feel that in the way people showed up. The doormen were just as thoughtful. They took their time helping my mom in and out of cars, even when the street was crowded and traffic was backed up. More than once, they cleared space so her car could pull right up to the door. This kind of guest experience does not happen by accident. Jorge made the difference for us, but it was clear he was part of something bigger. If you want to create guest experiences that people remember, take care of your people first. They will take care of your guests in ways you cannot script or mandate. And if you find yourself in midtown Manhattan, the Lotte New York Palace is worth your attention. #customerexperience #culture #service
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Dee Ann Turner® shared thisI remember watching a leader walk into a meeting on a day when everything felt uncertain. The numbers were down, roles were shifting, and no one was quite sure what the next few months would look like. You could sense it in the room before the meeting even started. People were quieter than usual, and there was a tension that had not been there before. He did not rush in and start talking. He paused for a moment, looked around the room, and then said, “We are going to face this together. I do not have every answer yet, but I will make sure you are not left in the dark.” It was not a long speech, and it was not polished. But something changed almost immediately. You could see it in the way people sat back in their chairs and in the way they began to engage again. The uncertainty had not disappeared, but it no longer felt like they were carrying it alone. In that moment, he demonstrated something that is easy to overlook in leadership. He carried the emotional weight first. He did not ignore the reality of the situation, and he did not try to move past it too quickly. Instead, he took responsibility for how it would be experienced by the people around him. The executive steadied himself before asking anyone else to do the same. That is what people remember in difficult seasons. They may not recall every word that was said, but they remember how it felt to be led. Leadership is not only about managing the work. It is about shaping the emotional environment where the work happens. #leadership #leading #newbook #comingsoon
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Dee Ann Turner® shared thisLife has a way of coming full circle. This week, I had the opportunity to visit Shane, someone I first met thirty years ago when I had the privilege of interviewing and selecting him to become a Chick-fil-A Restaurants Operator. Back then, he accepted a mall location in Raleigh, North Carolina, and made the most of it. Today, he operates three freestanding restaurants and a licensee in Athens, Georgia, serving the The University of Georgia Bulldogs and their fans with excellence. Standing in his team training office this week, I was reminded why that season of my career remains so meaningful. I have often said that being entrusted by Truett Cathy to help select franchisees was the best job I ever had. I loved solving the puzzle of finding the right leader, and even more, watching what they built over time. People often ask me the secret to Chick-fil-A’s success. It is leadership. But more specifically, it’s the thousands of Operators who have been carefully selected to serve their communities and care for their teams. They are anchored in a meaningful purpose, driven by a challenging mission, and committed to demonstrating values through everyday actions. Shane, thank you for being part of my story and for allowing me to be part of yours. #leadership #team #growth #success Athens Chick-fil-A
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Dee Ann Turner® shared this“One day you are part of the team. The next day, you are responsible for it.” I said that to my son the week he stepped into his first leadership role. I could hear it in his voice. Excitement and weight at the same time. Leadership changes how people experience you. Your words carry more weight, and decisions affect more people. People are always watching what you do. That shift is not about power. It is about responsibility. The sooner a new leader understands that, the stronger they will become. 🌟 What do you wish someone had told you when you first became a leader? #leadership #team #growing #newbook
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Dee Ann Turner® shared thisI'll be on stage at The Car Wash Show in Nashville with a session designed to help you tackle real business challenges. Whether your focus is leadership, operations, or customer experience, I'm excited to share insights that can make an immediate impact. Don't miss my session. Register now: https://lnkd.in/euxK46Ak #GoCarWashShow
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Dee Ann Turner® shared thisLeadership is not about arriving. It is about becoming. Too many leaders believe they need to have everything figured out before they step forward. In reality, leadership is formed in real time through decisions, mistakes, and the humility to keep learning. The most effective leaders are not defined by certainty. They are defined by their willingness to grow, listen, and adjust. If you are waiting to feel ready, you may be waiting too long. Growth is not something you achieve before leadership. It is what shapes you while you lead. #leadership #growth #newbook ©2026
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Dee Ann Turner® shared thisChange across generations does not succeed unless people feel they still belong. Leaders often focus on alignment, execution, and momentum, but underneath it all, people are asking a quieter question. Do I still have a place here? Belonging is not the same as agreement. It is the assurance that a person’s dignity, contribution, and history are respected even as the organization moves forward. Roberto Goizueta, former chairman of The Coca-Cola Company demonstrated this well during the New Coke moment. When the reaction came, he did not dismiss it. He listened, and he honored the deep connection people had to the brand and corrected course with humility. In doing so, he preserved trust. This is the tension leaders must hold. People want the organization to evolve and to feel honored in the process. One does not cancel out the other. Across generations, this matters more than ever. When leaders honor both innovation and experience, people are far more willing to move forward because they feel respected, not replaced. #Leadership #Culture #ChangeManagement #newbook
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Dee Ann Turner® shared thisDraft # 3 of my next book. Can’t wait to share it!
Dee Ann Turner® replied to a comment
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Kimberly Flamm Thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement!
Dee Ann Turner® replied to a comment
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Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport I agree, and I travel through lots of airports! Even the TSA agent wished me a Happy Birthday last month (with a huge smile). The passengers are polite and friendly, too. I actually look forward to going to your airport and I will be coming back next week!
Dee Ann Turner® commented on a post
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Dan, Praying for you as you travel this path. Thankful that you are receiving wonderful care from people who are dedicated to your complete healing!
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Dee Ann Turner® reacted on thisDee Ann Turner® reacted on thisI’m ashamed to admit that I spent the first decade of my career trusting Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins while trusting people for advice on my goals. But Jesus was the most productive person to ever walk the earth—by the world’s standards AND by God’s. So I studied the four gospel biographies of Jesus’s life to try to understand how Jesus pursued his goals. In the process, I uncovered timeless wisdom to help you and me achieve our goals with Christlike confidence, consistency, and character. I CAN’T WAIT to share that wisdom with you in my new book, Redeeming Your Goals! In the five years since I released Redeeming Your Time, I’ve fielded tons of questions from readers who are… 👉 Unsure how to discern if their goals are aligned with God’s will 👉 Can’t figure out how to progress in their goals while swamped at work and home 👉 Feel discouraged by goals they haven’t achieved You all asked for a hyper-practical, biblically-based roadmap to help you pursue big professional and personal goals with, like, and for Christ. This is that book! 🎯 In it, you’ll find seven biblical principles for pursuing your goals the way Jesus pursued his. And each principle is followed by a menu of optional practices—58 in total—to help you live out the principles in a modern context. This book is going to empower you to pursue bigger goals at work and beyond. But it’s hard to dream big about God’s purpose for your life when you’re completely swamped by your current commitments. That’s why I want to give you chapter 4 today. In this free chapter, you’ll find 11 practices to help you lighten the load of your to-do list and calendar. I’ll show you how to… ⏰ Calculate your buyback rate to supercharge delegation ‼️ Add an overhead tax of 50% to everything you’re asked to say “yes” to 🙅♂️ Make a list of Automatic Nos that say “no” for you 🎯 And more! Intrigued? You can read this chapter right now. Simply pre-order Redeeming Your Goals, then let me know here that you pre-ordered: https://lnkd.in/eYHswZCr I’ll send you chapter 4 immediately. (I’ve even added my behind-the-scenes thoughts in the margins so you can see which practices continue to have the biggest impact on my life and work!) Ready to dive in? Pre-order Redeeming Your Goals today: https://lnkd.in/em8iGHm8
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Dee Ann Turner® reacted on thisDee Ann Turner® reacted on thisWhat if retirement wasn’t about slowing down… but about growing, and giving? Wayne Hoover spent his entire career in the chicken business, building a remarkable legacy at Chick-fil-A Restaurants. Along the way, he didn’t just grow a business. He learned what it means to lead people with consistency, care, and a kind of hospitality that makes people feel seen, not just managed. When Wayne and his wife Robin Michael Hoover returned to Athens, rooted in their love for their alma mater, they carried a simple mantra with them: Go. Grow. Give. Robin now serves on our Athens Champion Board, continuing that same commitment to invest, show up, and give with deep love. And Wayne serves on our Expansion Committee for our ESP, inc. National Board. Just last week, we sat across from each other at a table in Five Points as he reminded me of something I needed to hear: Growth without infrastructure doesn’t last. It’s not flashy. It’s not always fun. It can be expensive. But it’s the kind of work that makes everything else possible. I walked away grateful—not just for his wisdom, but for his example. Grateful he and Robin choose a life that still goes. Still grows. Still gives. And challenges the rest of us to do the same.
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Dee Ann Turner® reacted on thisA rather BIG promotion! What an amazing individual to be in business with. She’s truly helping shape our culture and future. Well done Ivana. I’m so proud of you.Dee Ann Turner® reacted on thisWe have a NEW Training and Talent Director! Big CONGRATULATIONS to Ivana for leaning into her own personal growth journey. She started as a Team Member and has worked her way through many promotions [trainer, team leader, manager, office administrator]. THIS is what it’s all about! She’s a shining example of what Chick-fil-A is all about. Her new role has her hyper focused on shepherding our team through their own personal growth journeys. Which seems rather fitting! #growth #personaldevelopment #professionaldevelopment
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Dee Ann Turner® liked thisDee Ann Turner® liked thisHonored to join Terras as an Advisory Board Member. In my experiences over the past year with Terras I have struck by the caliber of the community and the depth of conversation. Marvin Rottenberg and his team have built a community where senior sustainability leaders across business, finance, policy, and philanthropy come together with openness and purpose. It is the kind of environment where lasting relationships form. I am proud to serve on the Advisory Board alongside an extraordinary group of leaders: Nancy Mahon, CSO at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Iris Maria Alexis Van der Veken, Executive Director at Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 Teresa Johnson, Partner at WilmerHale Michael Kobori, fmr. CSO at Starbucks Kurt Harrison, Russell Reynolds Associates Robert H. Edwards Jr., GCB.D, Managing Director at Hamilton Clark Gregg Meyer, CSO at Steve Madden Together, we are helping shape the future of Terras and supporting a community that is making sustainability & impact leadership even more connected.
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Publications
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Bet on Talent: How to Create A Remarkable Culture and Win the Hearts of Customers
Baker Publishing Group
See publicationWhen it comes to running a business, the most important decisions a leader makes are not about products or locations--they're about people. For more than thirty years, Dee Ann Turner has been recruiting, selecting, and retaining some of the best talent in the restaurant business. Now she's ready to share her secrets on how to build, sustain, and grow an organizational culture that attracts extraordinary talent and consistently delights customers, regardless of your industry.
In Bet on…When it comes to running a business, the most important decisions a leader makes are not about products or locations--they're about people. For more than thirty years, Dee Ann Turner has been recruiting, selecting, and retaining some of the best talent in the restaurant business. Now she's ready to share her secrets on how to build, sustain, and grow an organizational culture that attracts extraordinary talent and consistently delights customers, regardless of your industry.
In Bet on Talent, Turner shows you how to
· create a remarkable company culture
· select, sustain, and steward talent
· nurture internal relationships
· grow organizational loyalty that encourages customer loyalty
· instill the practice of servant leadership within your organization
· treat everyone with honor, dignity, and respect
· and much more
Bet on talent? Every time. Dee Ann Turner has given us a great guide for how to get ahead of the pack. She draws on her long career with Chick-fil-A to show you how to hire the best people, sustain a thriving culture, and leave customers saying, 'Wow!'"
Michael Hyatt, New York Times bestselling author
"Working with Dee Ann Turner and Chick-fil-A, I witnessed not just a remarkable culture, but a deliberate and impactful focus on people. Cultures like this don't just happen, and Bet on Talent is the blueprint for this work, which Dee Ann led for over thirty years at Chick-fil-A. This book is filled with practical tools and insightful stories that beautifully illustrate how to create your own remarkable culture, select extraordinary talent, and win the hearts of your customers. Bet on talent, and bet on this book!"
Stephen M. R. Covey, New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Speed of Trust -
It's My Pleasure: The Impact of a Compelling Culture and Extraordinary Talent
Elevate Publishing
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Talking with Author, Leadership Coach and Chick-fil-A Veteran, Dee Ann Turner
Modern Restaurant Management
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