Dir., Loyalty Marketing & Digital Strategy, AARP
I am Imani Joye Sanders Samuels. I love to listen. I love to serve. I love to ask “why?”
As a digital strategy and marketing leader in the private and non-profit sectors for over 14 years, I’ve had the privilege to advance influential movements during significant moments in history – from the voter education campaign at the Children’s Defense Fund to launching the financial education campaign during the 2008 financial crisis with FDIC.
In my current role as Loyalty Marketing Director at AARP, I co-launched and co-lead AARP Rewards, a loyalty program for the greater good. The digital gamified platform is designed to incentivize and foster behavior change with hundreds of learning opportunities that drive meaningful impact to each individual who engages. Prior to my transition to Loyalty, I was the Member Benefits Communications Director where I led the implementation of the overarching integrated communication strategy for 38 million members, leveraging account and media expertise from my experience at small and large ad agencies like Campbell Mithun, McCann, Porter Novelli and Arnold.
I hold my MA in Public Communication from American University and BA in Journalism, with a concentration in advertising, from Howard University. During my time at Howard, I also studied global citizenship at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. During my tenure at AARP, I was also selected to participate in Georgetown University’s ADEPT program where I received a certificate in leadership. Today, I also have the pleasure of studying Psychology with a concentration in Spirituality Mind Body at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Delightfully married to Philemon, we have two young feminists, Paz and Noire – both who have a great sense of curiosity, purpose and imagination.