Ideagen Intersection
3
Ideagen Intersection
11
George Sifakis:
Welcome. Welcome to Ideagen's Global Podcast. Today we have with us an exclusive interview with AARP's CEO, Jo Ann Jenkins. Jo Ann, welcome.
Jo Ann Jenkins:
Thank you. I'm delighted to be with you today.
George Sifakis:
It's an incredible honor to have you on the show, Jo Ann. Jo Ann is CEO of AARP, leads the world's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization harnessing the power and passion of almost 2,000 staff members, 60,000 volunteers and numerous strategic partners. Since joining the organization in 2010 and heading it since 2014, Jo Ann has truly transformed AARP into a leader in social change dedicated to empowering people to choose how they live and age.
George Sifakis:
A fearless champion for innovation and impact, Jo Ann is often lauded for her ability to create business opportunity and competitive differentiation. Jo Ann has been described as a visionary and global thought leader, a catalyst for breakthrough results, accelerating progress and contribution while fostering positive relationships. Jo Ann, what an incredible honor. I must say before we begin the interview, I am one of your biggest fans. I am all about disruption of aging and I'd like to start by saying what has inspired you originally to have joined AARP?
Jo Ann Jenkins:
Thank you for that very generous introduction. I joined AARP first as a board member for AARP's for-profit company and then later became its chair. As I transitioned off the board, AARP talked to me about whether I would be interested in coming to work with them leading their foundation, which had been in existence for almost 50 years. It was true to my passion, which is around helping low income vulnerable people, and so I came to AARP after serving on the board to head up their foundation and was able to transform the work of the AARP Foundation to focus solely on low-income vulnerable people across this country helping them around four key issue areas:hunger, housing, income and isolation. Little did I know in 2010 that in 2013 I was going to be asked to go over to the AARP side, the side that most people know, which is the C4 arm of AARP to be the chief operating officer and ultimately, CEO in 2014.
Jo Ann Jenkins:
It's been quite a ride for me at AARP, but really, I think it gives me the opportunity to expand upon the work that I've done throughout my whole life, which is to be in service-oriented roles helping people help themselves and really giving them the tools that they need for a hand up. I call it a hand up, not a hand out..
George Sifakis:
I absolutely love that, a hand up. What a great way to describe the work that you're doing. On that note, what are the key lessons and vantage points that help you, Jo Ann, to successfully lead AARP?
Jo Ann Jenkins:
I think for me, it's simply that you have to have a clear vision of where you're going and what it is you're trying to accomplish as an organization. We try to make sure that all of our staff and volunteers know what the end game is. How are we trying to help people live healthier lives?
Focused on the Future Conversation with AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins
An interview with Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO of AARP
As CEO of AARP, Jo Ann Jenkins leads the world’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization, harnessing the power and passion of almost 2,000 staff members, 60,000 volunteers and numerous strategic partners. Since joining the organization in 2010 and heading it since 2014, she has transformed AARP into a leader in social change, dedicated to empowering people to choose how they live and age. A fearless champion for innovation and impact, Jenkins is often lauded for her ability to create business opportunity and competitive differentiation.