Two Ten Scholar Highlight: How Employee Scholars Are Rising in the Footwear Industry

Two Ten Footwear Foundation recently welcomed a new cohort of scholars for the 2025-2026 academic year. Most of these students (80) are employee scholars, and many of them aspire to rise within the companies they work for now. Here are two of their stories: 

Michael Turner, Skechers: Finishing What He Started 

Michael Turner started college after high school several years ago. But after about a year, he pivoted to working in retail instead of finishing his degree, eventually finding his “sweet spot” in specialty retail for nearly 15 years. 

Now a full-time manager at Skechers, Michael has returned to school to finish his degree and refine his skills in business management. 

With financial support from the Two Ten Scholarship and a tuition reimbursement from Skechers, Michael is now just two years away from earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus in management from Middle Tennessee State University 

“Whether it's in school, or in business, or in people management, or any area, I'm going to keep learning,” Michael said. “This degree is a way to focus and finish a goal that I started a long time ago.” 

This degree is a way to focus and finish a goal that I started a long time ago.

Looking ahead, Michael sees his education as another important step in his long-term growth in Skechers and in retail management more broadly. 

“Skechers is one of the best retail companies I've ever worked for. They really take care of their people and really work to understand their customers,” Michael said. “They make it an environment where you can succeed. I could see myself staying with Skechers for a long time.” 

Ayla Barbeau, DSW: From Sales Floor to Fashion Merchandising 

Ayla Barbeau’s experience as a sales associate at DSW — a job she started as a teenager — ultimately led her to pursue a career in fashion merchandising.  

She learned about the Two Ten college scholarship through another DSW employee and applied to the fashion merchandising program at Kent State University. Now in her second year of school, Ayla is balancing her studies with her part-time job at DSW and various commitments, like being a stylist for a campus magazine. 

Through her education, Alya has become attuned to behind-the-scenes details of running a store, like sales stats, conversation rates, and average spend per person. It’s made her role at DSW all the more exciting.  

“I am definitely more aware of what is going on in the store,” Ayla said. 

She’s also been able to explore the different career paths available to her within fashion, such as marketing, store design, and product management. One thing is for certain: she isn’t looking to leave DSW any time soon. 

I've stayed at DSW because I really love all the people. It's a very good, friendly and supportive team.

“I've thought about how maybe I could work my way up in DSW, or maybe one day work at headquarters,” Ayla said. “I've stayed at DSW because I really love all the people. It's a very good, friendly and supportive team.”