Shep Moyle
Lecturing fellow in the Innovation & EntrePreneurship Initiative
Shep Moyle is an experienced entrepreneur, CEO, chairman, family business owner, and community leader with more than 30 years of leadership in the digital retail and e-commerce industry. He currently is a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke University in the Fuqua School of Business teaching Innovation and Entrepreneurship to both undergraduate and graduate students, serving as a CEO Coach to a select clientele of CEO’s globally , and serves on multiple corporate boards as well as doing strategy work for universities and organizations. He has been recognized as a “Top 5%” faculty member in Trinity College in fall 2024, served as Associate Director of the Markets and Management Studies Program at Duke, and has been appointed as a Fellow at the National War College. He served as owner , CEO, and board chairman of Shindigz for 31 years, his 96-year-old family business, which averaged 20% growth every year for more than 20 years and became the third-largest specialty branded retailer of party supplies, decoration, and personalized items globally. During Shep’s tenure, Shindigz generated over $2 billion in revenue in more than 55 countries globally over 20,000 items. Prior to Shindigz, he was brand manager on Doritos and Fritos for Frito Lay, Inc., a division of PepsiCo, where he created Tostitos Restaurant Style tortilla chips, Lime Flavor, Bite Size and White Corn Tostitos. This re-stage drove revenues from $90 million annually to over $2 billion in sales. Shep has been an active member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) since the age of 28 and served as the youngest International Chairman of the YPO Board. During his leadership, Shep initiated the merger with WPO, created and introduced networks globally and drove international membership to new records . He has served as a member of the Duke University Board of Trustees, as President of the Duke Alumni Association, on the boards of Athletics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and multiple other boards. In 2018 he was recognized with the Charles A. Dukes Distinguished Alumni Award for lifetime contributions to the University. He is a 1984 Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University where he was elected student body president in his sophomore year and he received an MBA with honors from the Harvard Business School in 1986. He has been recognized as Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Cataloger of the Year, On Line Retailer of the Year, one of Forbes Top Web Retailers and a member of Indiana’s Growth 100.
What are you most looking forward to as a Faculty Fellow?
The opportunity to be engaged with students in their world and to be a part of their living/learning experience. I hope to be a resource and a partner to help students in their Duke journey and to provide my experience as a faculty member, Duke alumni, President of the Duke Alumni Association, Duke parent 2x, and as a 30 year CEO and entrepreneur. Plus, free food is always an incentive.
What advice would you give to current undergraduates?
Believe in yourself. Take risks. Fail your way to success. Be interesting. Follow your path and blaze a trail. This is an extraordinary time. Make the most of all that Duke has to offer. Duke transformed my life and it is my hope and belief that it will change yours as well.
What is something you think students should know during their time at Duke?
We have a responsibility to leave Duke better than how we found it--how will you make a difference? You will all change the world in amazing ways. We just dont know what it will look like yet. You will find it is not about what you know but who you know in your life journey. Make the most of this moment to build relationships. Be curious. Know that investing in relationships and people will change your life today and for years to come. Plus, you should know that the passion for Duke basketball will only increase over time.