Ideagen Intersection
14
outside of ourselves. Here at AARP, we are intently focused on people who are age 50 and up , but the dynamics of what's going on in the world, the shortages we see in some of the critical areas around caregiving or in the education system, I think one of those critical areas is how do we use the wisdom, the experience and the insights of older people in our society to help solve some of these critical issues.
Jo Ann Jenkins:
I tell the staff all the time that we are able to take strategic risks. Failure is ok, as long as you fail fast and share that learning with others so that we don't make the same mistake twice. The question is how do we continuously innovate and constantly get feedback from our consumers and our members so that we are providing best-in-class service for them and putting them at the center of what it is we do every day.
Jo Ann Jenkins:
Then I would just also say that as a CEO,you're only as successful as the people you surround yourself with and I think it's critically important that I surround myself with people who have different strengths than I do. Good leaders have people around them who are testing, who are pushing, who are making critical judgments about where we're going, what we're trying to do, what we've accomplished, what we haven't accomplished and really looking at the future and thinking about how do we need to change to make sure that we are there where our members need us in their communities at the local level and really trying to do the best job that we can do every day. I think if you can do that in the workplace and surround yourself with people who can help make a difference in the world, then it's all worth doing.
George Sifakis:
If that's not inspiring, not sure what is. You've inspired our listeners today. You've inspired myself certainly and your perspectives are invaluable in this interview. Jo Ann, what is up next for you and AARP?
Jo Ann Jenkins:
I think it's exciting, some of the things that we're doing and we're seeing out front of us in AARP. Obviously, we're very excited about working with our partners around the country to come up with new solutions. Jo Ann Jenkins:
George Sifakis:
Profound thanks for your global leadership and your global vision to change the world with your leadership at AARP. How can our global audience find out more about your work at AARP?
Jo Ann Jenkins:
I think the easiest way is to go online at aarp.org, which is our main website. They can follow me on Twitter, @joann_jenkins, but I would say directly at the website. We would invite them to join us in any way that they see fit, through volunteering, through our advocacy work, through getting involved or engaged with our foundation or just really going to that aarp.org to find out more information about any of the topics that we're involved in.
George Sifakis:
Jo Ann Jenkins, defining leadership and changing the world. Thank you so much for this incredible interview.
Jo Ann Jenkins:
Thank you!
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