Sharen Jester Turney

Sharen Jester Turney is a retail executive with more than 30 years of experience growing world-class brands and launching eCommerce businesses across department, luxury, and specialty concepts for Fortune 500 companies and leading retailers worldwide.

As two-year interim CEO of 1 billion dollar Gloria Jeans, the largest retailer of fashion apparel, footwear, and accessories for all ages across Russia with more than 600 stores and a growing eCommerce platform, Sharen Turney brought her expertise to a diverse team to keep innovation at the forefront.

Turney spent the previous 16 years as president and chief executive officer of the nearly 8 billion dollar Victoria's Secret brand (stores, direct, PINK, beauty), doubling the business and profit under her stewardship.

Prior to Victoria's Secret, Turney spent ten years with luxury powerhouse brand Neiman Marcus, first serving as executive vice president overseeing six departments before launching their eCommerce business and managing the famous Neiman Marcus Christmas Book as president and CEO of Neiman Marcus Direct.

A graduate of The University of Oklahoma, Turney earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education. Turney is proud to be an inductee into the State of Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed upon an Oklahoman. In addition, she is an inductee into the Hall of Fame Business of Education at The University of Oklahoma and received OUs Award of Distinction.

She is recognized for her industry and philanthropic work; Turney is the Fashion Medal of Honor for Fashion Retailing recipient. She was a Way to WIN honoree in appreciation of her support of homeless women and children on their journey toward independence in New York. She was previously an honoree of the Children's Hunger Alliance in Columbus, Ohio. Turney received the Hug Award, an honor given to individuals in the fashion industry with a heart. She also received the Dr. Catherine White Achievement Award from HeartShare Human Services, which promotes self-sufficiency for more than 35,000 children, adults, and families throughout New York.

With Turney's generous leadership gift for teachers and endowment for scholarships to her alma mater, OU, students are inspired by her words of wisdom on a plaque in the Sharen Jester Turney courtyard on campus. In addition, her support for education extends across borders, including scholarship programs for young girls in Sri Lanka.

Turney serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Oklahoma Foundation and the Board of Directors for Bread Financial and Academy Sports + Outdoors in North America and NewStore in the US and Europe. She serves on the Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative advisory board at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Turney served as chairman of the board of directors for the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, was on the board of directors for both Nationwide Children's Hospital and The James Cancer Hospital, and was an eight-year board of directors member for M/I Homes, Inc.

Turney's advisory roles in retail, technology, and philanthropy span the globe, including London based Marks and Spencer, Gloria Jeans in Russia, Cosmo Lady in China, Clovia and IvyCap Ventures in India, Sweden based global brand Happy Socks, Full Beauty Brands in New York; ProQuo AI in New York and the UK, Paycom in the US; and among others, Catholic Relief Services in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Nepal with a commitment to helping Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan and Cristo Rey Columbus college-preparatory high school with a professional work-study program. She is also actively involved with The Center for Family Safety and Healing.

A frequent media guest and featured speaker with business and educational institutions, Sharen Jester Turney, enjoys interacting with people all over the world, discussing what the future holds for today's and the next generations of curious minds influencing our global community.