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Why We Started
Mid-Life Women
Mid-Life Women began as a passion project during the COVID-19 pandemic. While we were all navigating the realities of a global pandemic, economic crisis, and racial justice reckoning, we saw how women 50 and beyond faced a deeper challenge that lies at the heart of all others—a crisis of loneliness and isolation.
This was a call to connection. We realized how vital human connection is to effectively address the challenges of today's world at this stage of our lives. Vital nurturing and connections are not only to help us weather the storm, but also to reweave our social fabric, together.
Our origin was derived from one simple idea; to use storytelling as a way to connect and revolutionize the culture around women and aging by sparking conversation and inspiring action in the many different settings and roles we inhabit.
Since we must be heard to be seen, storytelling is a powerful tool for beginning our work together and igniting a shared understanding and collective consciousness that opens us up to the possibilities before us. From there, it will be on us to imagine and create the steps we’ll need to take to truly build the life that we are yearning for.
The complexity and severity of some of the challenges we’re facing at 50 and beyond can seem overwhelming. But when we bring empathy, mutuality, vulnerability, and curiosity to our connections, we feel seen, validated, and understood.
Join us. Let’s stand tall together to see, hear, and understand each other. When we put connections and self-care at the center of everything we do, the benefits for ourselves, our families, and our work, are beyond measure.
Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.
Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees)
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A Personal Note from Orly
"Life is a profound journey of highs
and lows. Each sunrise, the comforting aroma of morning coffee, the monumental moments of founding a company, witnessing my daughter’s wedding, when my son called me one of his best friends, they've all enriched my tapestry of existence.
Challenges, pain, and setbacks have been integral too. They’ve taught me the art of resilience, the beauty of healing, and the value of perseverance. While the wounds of the past leave scars, they stand as testimony to survival, growth, and gratitude. In life's good moments, these scars remind me never to take anything for granted."
Orly Benaroch Light
Founder, Mid-Life Women
Orly Benaroch Light wears many hats - an expert in the travel and tourism industry, a spirited entrepreneur, a torchbearer for women's empowerment, a fervent human rights defender, a children's book author, a gourmet aficionado, and above all,
a dedicated mother.
Facing Ageism Head-On
At 50, the subtle undertones of gendered ageism came knocking on Orly’s door. The veils of invisibility, negative stereotypes, and discrimination that society sometimes assigns to mature women tried to define her. But rather than succumb, Orly embraced the rich tapestry of her life. She felt invigorated by the growth and maturity of her children and looked ahead with a vision to thrive in mid-life and beyond. Unyielding in her resolve, she chose to remain at the
forefront, defining herself by her values and contributions.
Reinvention and Resilience
Orly’s journey has been nothing short of transformative. Through sheer determination, she broke through barriers
to establish an all-female continuing medical education enterprise - becoming its sole female founder. Following its successful acquisition, Orly’s thirst for growth led her back
to the academic halls. Her passion projects have included empowering women towards equality, advocating for peace
in the Middle East, and even soaring the skies with flying lessons. Currently, she's channeling her creativity into a children's fantasy adventure picture book, aiming to instill principles of gender equality and inclusion in young minds,
set to grace bookshelves in 2024.
Empowering Mid-Life Women
At the heart of Orly’s endeavors is a mission to rally mid-life women. Through the platform of "Mid-Life Women", she aims to offer a haven where women can challenge ageism, sharing tales of resilience, wisdom, and tools to promote holistic well-being. Recognizing the shared challenges of this phase, Orly believes in the collective strength of women standing united. In her own words, "We’re not done yet!"
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Mid-Life Influencers
Kimberlé Crenshaw
Shannon Watts
Melinda French Gates
Kimberlé is a law professor at Columbia University and UCLA. She runs the African American Policy Forum, the social justice think tank she cofounded 25 years ago,
and hosts a podcast on a term she coined: intersectionality. She was a founder and has been a leader in the intellectual movement called Critical Race Theory. CRT critiques how the social construction of race and institutionalized racism perpetuate a racial caste system that relegates people of color to the
bottom tiers.
Shannon Watts is a mother of five who,
prior to founding Moms Demand Action,
was a stay-at-home mom and former communications executive. The day after
the Sandy Hook tragedy, Shannon started
the grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that protect people from gun violence. Watts
is also an active board member of Emerge America, one of the nation’s leading organizations for recruiting and training women to run for office, and Advance Peace.
In addition to maintaining her position as
co-chair of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, French Gates founded Pivotal Ventures in 2015, which works toward
efforts like paid leave for all, access to
mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ youth and
kids of color, and increasing the number of women in politics. Melinda is also the author of the bestselling book The Moment of Lift,
in which she introduces readers to the inspiring women she has met during her
work and travels around the world and
shares her own journey to becoming an advocate for women and girls.
María Elvira Salazar
Hali Li
Ruth Lande Shuman
Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar
proudly represents Florida’s 27th Congressional District, passionately serving the people of South Florida.Congresswoman Salazar is a five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, and is well-known for her advocacy for Human Rights and democracy around the world, especially for the people of Cuba,Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua, Israel and Colombia.
Hali is a Co-Founder of the Donors of Color Network (the first national network of high net wealth donors of color) and was part
of the co-design team that birthed Philanthropy Together (a national effort to strengthen and scale the collective giving movement). She also founded the Asian Women Giving Circle which has moved
over a million dollars to supports arts a
nd activism.
Ruth is the founder of Publicolor, a
not-for-profit innovative educational youth development organization that empowers students facing immense life challenges for academic and career success through a multi-year project-based continuum of programs. Publicolor makes a difference
at so many different levels. Kids get desperately needed mentorship and opportunities. This is a special program
that is making a difference.