• by Lisa Singer , Staff Writer, July 22, 2022

Behind the Scenes with Barbara Shipley

AARP's Barbara Shipley talks defying expectations, her debut as a runway model and when opportunity knocks, listen.

I've had the opportunity to connect with and learn from executives of major brands at MediaPost's Insider Summits. In the process I've discovered some truly impressive women, and not only for the work they do but their stories behind the scenes. With Brand Insider: BTS, I get to pull back the curtain on some of the most influential women marketers as they talk about their path to success: the twists and turns, obstacles, inspirations and the valuable lessons learned along the way.

“That was the beginning of what has ended up being a pretty meteoric career...that one piece of advice.” That "piece of advice" for Barbara Shipley? To get a job doing anything in an [ad] agency. So she did, and AARP’s s.v.p. of brand integration's career has been soaring ever since. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Barbara talks with me about changing direction, bringing her career full circle and her trailblazing mom’s influence. She also opens up about the challenges and “pure joy” she feels raising an autistic son, her daughter’s refreshing perspective and reminding herself to keep things simple. You can watch the entire conversation here: