In the media and publishing world, few names stand out as prominently as Michael Clinton, the former president and publishing director of Hearst Magazines. After more than 40 years in the industry, he is now radically embracing his next chapter as a bestselling author, the founder and CEO of ROAR Forward, and a vocal advocate for the New Longevity, emphasizing that life doesn’t end after 65. As life expectancy continues to rise, Clinton empowers older adults to reimagine the second half of their life with newfound vigor; illuminates to employers the strategic value of retaining an aging and experienced workforce; and alerts companies to the hidden value in this underestimated market with $8.3 trillion in spending power.

“When you age, all the messaging is that you should wind down and slow down, but that just didn’t sit right with me. I felt ready for the next challenge! So, I went back to school, got a master’s degree, trained for a big hike to the Everest base camp and launched a foundation. I was energized by these new experiences. Yet, there weren’t many positive messages out there about ageing as a time of opportunity.”

ROAR into the Second Half of Your Life – Before It’s Too Late, Clinton’s bestselling book now in its fourth printing, comprises inspiring stories of midlife transformation and actionable strategies to help readers step into their next chapter with passion and purpose. An Axiom Business Book Award winner, the book also spawned ROAR Forward, a B2B joint venture on the New Longevity with Hearst Ventures. ROAR Forward delivers research, content, and business intelligence to help companies better understand, communicate with, and connect to this dynamic generation of age innovators. Clinton also announced the release of his new book Longevity Nation: The People, Ideas, and Trends Changing the Second Half of Our Lives expected in May of 2026. In this book he will be diving into innovators, experts, and everyday individuals who are redefining what it means to thrive later in life.

Still a valuable asset to the publishing industry, Clinton now serves as special media advisor to the Hearst Corporation’s CEO. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Pace University and the International Center of Photography, and on the Advisory Boards of the Stanford Center on Longevity and the University of Chicago Leadership and Society Initiative. He has written for New York Times, Town & Country, and is a regular contributor to Esquire and Men’s Health. He has published eight books of his photography and two travel memoirs.

An avid traveler, Clinton has visited 126 countries and has run a marathon on each of the seven continents. The photographer, private pilot, and part owner of an Argentine vineyard is also the founder of Circle of Generosity, a nonprofit foundation that gives monetary support to families and individuals facing food insecurity, education discontinuity, housing and medical crises, and threats to basic life necessities. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, two master’s degrees from Columbia University and Pace University, and an Honorary Doctorate from Pace University.