Joseph Coughlin

Dr. Joseph F. Coughlin is a recognized authority on aging, longevity, and the business of longer living. He is the founder and director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, a multidisciplinary research program focused on understanding the behavior of the 45-plus population, the role of technology, and opportunities for innovation to improve the quality of life for older adults and their families. Coughlin has taught in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Urban Studies and Planning and the Sloan School of Management's Advanced Management Program. His research examines how global demographics, technology, and evolving behaviors are transforming business and society.

Coughlin's work has influenced how business leaders view older adults, identifying them as a significant and affluent consumer segment. His research addresses the convergence of baby boomer expectations and technology, shaping public policy and driving innovation across industries such as financial services, transportation, food, insurance, health, information technology, telecommunications, and retail. The AgeLab developed the AGNES (Age Gain Now Empathy System) suit, which provides designers with insight into the physical challenges faced by older consumers. This innovation has been used in collaborations with companies including Mercedes-Benz and CVS.

Coughlin is the author of "The Longevity Economy: Unlocking the World's Fastest Growing, Most Misunderstood Market," which has been translated into multiple languages and is used by leadership teams across various industries. He co-authored "Longevity Hubs: Regional Innovation for Global Aging" with Luke Yoquinto. Coughlin has published more than 250 academic works and serves as a senior contributor to Forbes, regularly writing for MarketWatch.

Coughlin frequently speaks and advises companies, the World Economic Forum, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and has served on the White House Conference on Aging Advisory Committee and other federal agency committees. His work has been featured on ABC News, BBC, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, NBC's Today Show, the Economist, Financial Times, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other global media outlets. His TEDxBoston talk, "Aging as an Extreme Sport," highlights his expertise as a public speaker.

Coughlin has received honors including the Gerontological Society of America's Maxwell A. Pollack Award for Productive Aging and an honorary doctorate of science from the State University of New York for contributions to public policy and technology for aging populations. Fast Company named him among the "100 Most Creative in Business." He is a member of World Minds, a Zurich-based community of global leaders in science, arts, and business. Investment News recognized him as one of the financial industry's leading "Icons & Innovators," and he received the Investment & Wealth Institute's Impact Award for his work in longevity planning.