In this episode, Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, sits down with AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan to discuss Katie’s remarkable journey from studying political science to shaping the future of eldercare. Drawing on her early work in the U.S. Senate and at AARP, Katie reflects on how policy and program must work hand in hand to create meaningful, systemic change for older adults.

Now leading an association of 5,500 mission-driven organizations, Katie shares how LeadingAge champions innovation, collaboration, and advocacy across the continuum of care—from affordable housing to aging in place. She also tackles the challenges of today’s polarized political climate, the impact of government gridlock on providers, and the growing need for public-private partnerships to ensure a sustainable future for aging services.

Katie believes that progress depends not only on policy but on people and stories—keeping human impact at the center of every decision. She calls on leaders to think boldly, share ideas openly, and recruit visionary minds to aging services boards.

Listeners will also get a preview of the upcoming LeadingAge Annual Conference in Boston, featuring keynotes by José Andrés and David Brooks, and opportunities for global learning through the Global Aging Network.

More about LeadingAge here LeadingAge.org

AgingIN website: https://aginginnovation.org/