Charting My Next Course: Embracing Retirement and Reflecting on a Decade at AARP

Those of you who follow me here know that I talk a lot about life stages, about how to embrace change and look forward to the possibilities that reveal themselves as the years pass.

It is with that in mind that I want to share my news. After more than 10 amazing years at AARP , and a career at FleishmanHillard before that, I am retiring. My husband and I will be leaving in the Spring for an extended trip aboard our boat up to the Great Lakes. Now is the moment for us to realize our long-time dream – and so off I go!

It’s been a privilege to serve as the CCMO of AARP and to use my experience to support this iconic brand and to drive our social mission. Not surprisingly, I have fallen in love with the brand and I am continually honored by the trust that people put in AARP. 

Millions know that our content and advocacy are completely devoted to helping them live a more secure life. Millions come to our digital properties for information they rely on and information that helps them make consequential decisions. Millions share our information with their loved ones. And millions more cheer our advocacy work in Washington and across the country.

As a steward of the brand, I have worked alongside my colleagues to challenge outdated stereotypes about aging, and we all know that is a challenging task. Ironically, my last speech as AARP’s CCMO was at the recent Association of National Advertisers Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference, and my presentation was all about informing the hundreds of marketers in the room about the potential of the 50-plus market. What’s ironic is that AARP’s founder, Ethel Percy Andrus, worked tirelessly to do exactly the same thing nearly 70 years ago. There I was on that big stage, talking about the $8.3 trillion spent by the 50-plus annually across every product and industry category. Well, Ethel’s messaging was almost identical all those years ago, although her numbers were smaller.

That begs the question, is our society making progress in fighting ageism? My experience tells me that if we see ourselves, at every age, as fortunate to have the ability to live a longer, healthier, more active life, then ageism fades. We then see older people as a vibrant part of society and, hopefully, we even cease the ageist humor that for some inexplicable reason seems so prevalent.

Without question, combatting ageist stereotypes and more authentically representing 50-plus adults creates the opportunity for our society to celebrate every age.

I am grateful to have played a part in bringing about positive change in the lives of those entering the second half of their lives.

AARP is a strong, determined brand with a clear vision set by Ethel Percy Andrus all those years ago. As I step aside, my immensely talented colleagues will move forward and I hope that all of you will invite this great brand into your lives, just as I did a decade ago.

Onward!