Legacy 2016 Miami: 25 Most Powerful Women Issue | Page 4

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AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO MIAMI HERALD

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2016

POWER MOVES
By Australia Gordon

AARP Florida’s Dionne Polite Switches Careers and Finds her Passion

Dionne Polite
A job is what you’re paid for, and a
vocation is what you’re made for. Dionne
Polite was like many of the young ladies she
grew up with in the South American country
of Guyana. “At that time, my parents saw
that I developed acumen for math,” Polite
recalled. “They told me I was going to be a
banker or accountant.”
In her home country, it wasn’t unusual
for parents to dictate the career ambitions
of their children. More than a decade later,
the family moved to New York and Dionne
fulfilled her parents prophesy. In 1982, she
earned a bachelor’s degree in Business

PINNACLE
By Olisa Adger

Administration and landed a job at the
former Manufacturers Handover Trust Bank.
Despite a dozen years in banking and proven
mathematical wizardry, she felt something
just didn’t add up.
“My parents meant well for me, but I
hated banking and did not want to do it
anymore,” she disclosed. Polite was not
alone. She was one of the 70-percent of
Americans who found their jobs unfulfilling,
per a recent Gallup study. Unlike, her
unsatisfied brethren, Polite addressed her
vocational dissatisfaction directly. “I truly
believe in the Mahatma Ghandi saying, ‘you
must be the change you want to see.’ I take
that seriously and seek to contribute to
others,” she affirmed. “I was interested in
social action and that led to a job in
fundraising and outreach.”
The City University of New York alumna
enjoyed a career switch that included
managerial stints at the March of Dimes and
the American Diabetes Association. Since
2009, she has worked with AARP, Inc.
(formerly American Association of Retired
Persons). Last year she accepted the role as
manager of state operations for AARP
Florida. In this role, the Caribbean

transplant is responsible for managing
statewide, community education and
engagement, advocacy/legislative efforts and
cultural experiences.
“It takes vision, clear focus, direction, an
open mind and flexibility,” she revealed. “A
cookie cutter approach does not work in
Florida. I must deliver services for all
communities, regardless of cultural and/or
political backgrounds.” Her success is
powered by, “faith, passion, and focus.” “I
am a loyal woman committed to her family
and her community,” she shared. “I want to
be remembered for the contributions I made
to others.”
Her accomplishments notwithstanding,
Polite counts Darryl, her husband of 31
years, and their adult children, son Jordan,
and daughter Jabrielle, as her greatest gifts.
Three decades of earning family
management skills transfer onto her job. “As
a leader you have to coach your team.
Everybody on the team wants a trophy. But,
not everybody has the same skill or performance level,” she revealed. “My job is to
manage everyone’s talents, strengths and
weaknesses, and use them so we can get
that trophy.”

Polite is more than satisfied with AARP.
The organization is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization, with a membership of more
than 37 million people over the age of 50.
Among other benefits, the group partners
with major firms to extend healthcare,
automobile insurance, financial, travel and
service discounts to its members. “Life truly
begins at 50,” Polite boasts. “From age one
through 50, you are learning. From 50 and
beyond, you are living. AARP allows
members to live their best lives!”
For more information, log on to
www.AARP.org

“As a leader you have to coach
your team. Everybody on the
team