Jill Loris
Jill Loris is the CEO and founder of Old Cow Media, a digital media brand built to reframe how society views aging and to create a stronger sense of community for people over 40. Based in New York City, she leads a platform that blends storytelling, advocacy, and education to challenge age-related stereotypes—particularly those affecting women—and to promote the idea that life continues to grow in meaning, creativity, and opportunity well beyond midlife. Her work centers on helping audiences embrace aging with confidence, purpose, and visibility.
With more than 17 years of professional experience, Jill Loris has a background shaped by both creative and caregiving fields. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia University and a Certificate in Aging from Johns Hopkins University, along with life coaching credentials. Her earlier work in elder care and consulting, combined with a personal health experience in a hospital setting where she observed gaps in elderly patient care, deeply influenced her decision to build Old Cow Media. These experiences informed her mission to advocate for dignity, respect, and improved societal attitudes toward older adults.
Through Old Cow Media, Loris produces content across social media, podcasting, public speaking, and writing, reaching a broad international audience that includes both women and men over 40. Her work focuses on healthy aging, emotional wellbeing, and social connection, while also exploring themes such as identity, reinvention, and purpose in later life. In addition to her media leadership, she is working on a book and continues to speak on aging, creativity, and longevity. Outside of her professional work, she draws on her interests in playwriting, screenwriting, music, and dance—integrating creativity into both her personal life and her approach to helping others age with vitality and meaning.
• Certificate on Aging
• Columbia University - BA
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to honesty, authenticity, and my ability to connect with people through real-life experiences. Whether I’m speaking about aging through Old Cow, life coaching, or giving talks at Google, I try to be open about both the struggles and the growth I’ve experienced in my own life. I’ve learned that people connect deeply with vulnerability because most of us have complicated stories, insecurities, and self-doubt. By being honest about where I came from and encouraging others not to let their past define them, I’m able to build trust and create meaningful conversations that truly resonate with people.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is not that failure doesn’t exist, but that believing success is optional isn’t really an option. I grew up in a family where resilience was the standard—my father and grandfather both experienced major setbacks, even periods of homelessness, and yet they went on to become self-made, successful entrepreneurs through relentless work. In that environment, failure wasn’t something to fear; it was something to work through. The mindset was always focused on action: if you had an idea, the question wasn’t whether you could do it, but how you were going to do it and what your next step would be. That perspective taught me to keep moving forward no matter what, because persistence is often what ultimately leads to success.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to find something you are truly passionate about so you can be authentic and honest in what you do. I believe that sincerity is what makes you persuasive and credible—people can tell when you genuinely believe in what you’re saying. In any field, especially one that involves communication or influence, that authenticity builds trust, even if people don’t agree with everything you say. I would also encourage them not to settle or sacrifice their values or vision for quick success. Early on, I didn’t make much money, but I stayed committed because I believed in what I was building, and that made the challenges worthwhile.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity in my field is that conversations around aging, longevity, and wellness have become mainstream, creating far more openness, acceptance, and global opportunities to speak and share this work. At the same time, the biggest challenge is the amount of misinformation in the space, with many unrealistic “anti-aging” claims that can mislead people. A key part of my work is helping people cut through that noise and understand that while you can improve how you look and feel, you can’t stop the aging process.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, decency, kindness, and care are the most important values in both my work and personal life. I also value tolerance, although I believe it should be the baseline rather than something exceptional. I feel strongly about maintaining integrity in a world where I often see a lack of honesty and decency in media, politics, and everyday interactions. At my core, I believe in acting from genuine care and “pure light,” rather than from hidden agendas or incentives. Even though financial success matters, I didn’t begin my work with money as the goal—I stayed committed because I believed in its purpose and the importance of helping people see aging and life in a more positive, honest way.