Conference explored the business, cultural and civic revolution being created by the ‘New Longevity.’
Jim Cobb, founder and CEO of The Bloodhound Group, was among more than 200 influential “New Longevity” trailblazers who gathered in New York for the ROAR Summit 2024 to examine the demographic earthquake this high-potential group is causing across every element of our lives.
Executives from healthcare, fashion and beauty, advertising/communications, media, science, technology, finance, government and academia gathered at the Hearst Tower to exchange ideas and visions for the future.
The invitation-only event was the second annual gathering of the ROAR forward community, a movement launched by Michael 
Clinton, former president and publishing director of Hearst Magazines. Clinton based the concept on his best-selling book, Roar: into the second half of your life (before it’s too late), which challenges 50+-year-olds to embrace the changes in the rest of their lives and reimagine their future.
Clinton describes the ROAR forward community he is building as “Re-Imagineers,” consisting of age innovators who are reinventing themselves and rejecting antiquated ageist stereotypes in every facet of their lives. The organization’s mission is to raise cultural awareness of the social and economic impact of the Re-Imagineers and to develop market intelligence regarding this segment for business, media and legislators.
Among the many sessions and speakers at the Summit were:
- An interview on “Disrupting Ageism” with Mika Brzezinski, creator of the 50 Over 50 List.
- A “ROAR Conversation” on embracing being 50+ with actress/author Julianna Marguiles and Gayle King, CBS MORNINGS and Oprah Daily.
- A panel discussion on “How Images Empower the New 50+ Consumer,” featuring leaders from L’Oreal Paris, QVC, Grace Creative, Town & Country and Elle Décor.
- A presentation on loyalty and market potential among 50+ consumers by John Dick, founder and CEO of CivicScience, Inc.
- A panel discussion on “The Intersection of Medicine & Technology” with representatives of leading companies in these fields, including HearingLife, Consumer Technology Association, Men’s Health, Longevity Docs and Weill Cornell Medicine.
“The conference provided new insights and understanding of the high-potential 50+ demographic and the opportunity it represents,” says Cobb. “The ROAR forward initiative is evolving into a rich resource we can tap on behalf of our clients to more effectively reach this large and economically powerful group.”
Find more information on the ROAR forward movement at roarforward.com.