On Jennifer Luney’s first day back from maternity leave, her bank’s branch was robbed.
“I remember thinking, Is this a sign I should stay home?” she tells Local Profile. “But what I remember even more was the team around me — the support, the care, the humanity. It made me want to stay. It made me want to become that kind of leader.”
Fast forward a few years and today, she’s in her “unstoppable era” — a season defined by giving back, connecting others and proving that a winding path can lead somewhere powerful.
“I’ve raised my kids. I’ve built my career. I’ve survived setbacks and rebirths,” Luney says. “Now I’m focused on sharing what I’ve learned. When you’re going through change — divorce, job loss or a new life stage — you have to stop and breathe. Make a list of what’s in your toolkit: mentors, faith, family, friends. Then move forward with clarity.”
Her favorite advice is simple: “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”
From the first day she faced crisis head-on, Luney built a career rooted in courage and empathy. This fall, she will share those hard-won lessons as a panelist at North Texas’ most powerful women’s leadership event: Local Profile’s 24th annual Women in Business Summit, presented by Bank of America, on Sept.12. For summit details, tickets and sponsor opportunities, visit localprofile.com/womeninbusiness.
How She Started
Luney began her career in advertising and marketing, working on campaigns for banks and corporate clients. But when the bank she joined in Austin merged, she found herself working as a teller while raising a newborn.
She moved frequently for her former husband’s career, changing branches and banks and steadily building her expertise.
“It felt like I had started in the mail room,” Luney says. “I learned every side of the business by doing it.”
Reinvention and Resilience
After more than a decade in finance, Luney felt called to do something different. She left banking to open a children’s cooking school, hoping to create a business that blended entrepreneurship, family and purpose.
When the 2008 financial crisis hit, her cooking school — like so many small businesses — was forced to close.
“I didn’t retreat. I rebuilt,” she says.
“I took time. I listened. I networked," Luney says. "And eventually, banking called me back. But this time, I had something new to offer — perspective.”
Instead of immediately returning to finance, she launched her own marketing company, helping other businesses grow. Those years out of banking gave her a deeper empathy for her clients, especially entrepreneurs navigating uncertainty.
An Advocate in the Arts
When she did return to financial services, Luney joined BB&T (now Truist), then Regions Bank, and eventually helped launch a new private banking team at US Bank. Today, she serves clients as a senior vice president and senior private wealth banker at Bank of Texas, based in Frisco.
But her impact extends beyond wealth management.
Married to a fine art photographer and passionate about creative communities, Luney has become a champion for cultural nonprofits in Frisco. She now serves as treasurer for two organizations supporting the arts, including Visual Arts Guild of Frisco (VAGF), a nonprofit committed to supporting local artists and cultivating public appreciation for the arts.
“I’m a unicorn,” she says. “But my superpower is arts advocacy.”
Hear More At Local Profile’s Women in Business Summit
Luney will share her story — and the mindset that helped her turn crises into growth — at North Texas’ most anticipated women’s leadership event: Local Profile’s 24th annual Women in Business Summit, presented by Bank of America.
Join 500 of North Texas’ most influential women for a day of inspiring conversations, high-impact networking, and stories that will help you lead boldly—no matter where your journey begins.
🎟️ Tickets are on sale now and won’t last long.
Reserve your spot and get all event details here.
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