The daughter of Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Meredith Vieira and acclaimed journalist Richard M. Cohen, Lily Max Cohen has masterfully balanced family legacy with personal ambition.
Instead of benefiting from the fame of her parents, she’s carved her own path in the California digital media landscape.
Who is Lily Max Cohen?
Lily Max Cohen is the youngest child and only daughter of television personality Meredith Vieira and journalist Richard M. Cohen, born on November 25, 1993, in New York City.
She currently works as Director of Brand Strategy at TasteMade in Santa Monica, California, working on lifestyle and digital content instead of following her parents into traditional journalism.
Early Life in a Media Dynasty
Lily’s upbringing was far from ordinary, surrounded by parents who influenced public discourse across America. Her mother became a household name with groundbreaking work on shows like “The View,” “Today” and “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”
Her father worked for major outlets including CBS News, NBC News and wrote weekly columns for The Washington Post.
Sadly, Richard died on Christmas Eve in 2024 after a two-month battle with pneumonia, a loss that greatly impacted the close-knit family.
Growing Up With Two Brothers
Lily grew up with two older brothers, Benjamin Edwin Cohen (born 1989) and Gabriel Anthony Cohen (born 1991).
Gabriel followed his parents into journalism, working as a reporter in Seattle covering elderly people and healthcare issues, while Benjamin graduated from Harvard Business School and works in Silicon Valley.
Despite their famous parents, Lily’s parents made sure that she had as normal a childhood as possible, though privacy was a luxury the children learned to cherish from an early age.
Education: Northwestern University Journey
Lily attended Northwestern University, from which she graduated in 2015 with a degree in communication studies. The city of Evanston became her first playground of self-discovery, away from the hectic media lifestyle of New York.
This educational foundation gave her important skills for her later career in digital media and communications, enabling her to emerge from the shadows of her parents while honoring the family’s commitment to excellence.
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Career Path: Production Assistant to Brand Strategy Director
The Bold Move to California
Upon graduation, Lily took the bold move to move to Santa Monica, California to join TasteMade, a leading lifestyle, food and travel content platform. This geographical move was symbolic of her search for independence.
Rising Through the Ranks at TasteMade
She began as a production assistant and by working her way up to the position of associate editor, Lily proved to be a hard worker and capable of more than might be expected from a celebrity offspring.
Today, Lily works in business development and partnerships for TasteMade, combining her communication skills with her emerging business acumen. Current reports show she is the Director of Brand Strategy at TasteMade.
Additional Experience at STX
Her versatility was further demonstrated during her time at entertainment company STX, where she excelled in roles ranging from communications to finance, showing her ability to adapt to various facets of the media industry.
Public Appearances and “The Honest One”
Lily became known as “the honest one in the family” when she appeared on “The Meredith Vieira Show,” giving viewers a candid look into her mother’s disorganized kitchen. She called the stove “the scene of a crime” and described the pantry as looking like a “fraternity house,” demonstrating her humor and authenticity.
Despite her preference for privacy, these appearances gave a glimpse into her poise and media savvy, traits undoubtedly honed through years of watching her parents in action. However, she didn’t use these opportunities to start an on-camera career, instead maintaining a low-key public presence.
Preserving Privacy in the Digital Age
One part of Lily’s life that is kept largely private is her relationships. In a time when celebrity children frequently overshare on social media, Lily has managed to keep personal details out of the spotlight.
Meredith has described her relationship with Lily as refreshingly honest: “We don’t do all the little small talk anymore, but we talk every single day.” This daily connection shows the strong family bonds despite geographical distance.
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Family Heritage and Values
Rich Family Background
Lily’s family tree is full of interesting characters. Her paternal grandfather, Dr. Benjamin Cohen, was a respected physician.
On her mother’s side, her grandfather, Dr. Edwin Vieira, and grandmother, Mary Elsie Rosa Silveira Vieira, were first-generation Portuguese-Americans who stressed the importance of education and hard work.
These values trickled down through the generations. Lily’s uncles – Edwin Vieira Jr., Stephen G. Vieira, and Jeffrey Vieira – have all achieved success in their respective fields, from law to medicine.
Forging Her Own Identity
What’s notable about the life of Lily Max Cohen is how she has managed to go beyond the shadows of the reputation of her parents to forge her path in life.
While her family connections may have opened doors for her, it is Lily’s own drive and willingness to tackle any challenge that has propelled her career forward.
Her career, which is heavily digital content and lifestyle oriented, is a reflection of her adaptability and forward thinking nature, a stark contrast to the more traditional journalism roles of her parents.
Lessons from Lily’s Journey
Lily Max Cohen’s story has some great insights for anyone who is walking their own path:
- Embrace Your Roots Without Being Defined: Lily proudly acknowledges her family heritage while creating her own unique identity in digital media.
- Start From the Bottom: Despite having famous parents, she wasn’t afraid to start from the bottom as a production assistant and prove herself with dedication and hard work.
- Geographic Independence: Moving from New York to California enabled her to establish credibility apart from her family’s East Coast media connections.
- Balance Privacy and Presence: She is able to maintain a professional visibility while keeping personal things private, which is a rare accomplishment in today’s oversharing culture.
- Family Remains Priority: Despite creating an independent life, Lily has strong daily connections with her family, demonstrating that autonomy and close family ties aren’t mutually exclusive.
Current Status and Prospects for Future
At only 31 years old, Lily Max Cohen’s story has yet to be written. Her career at TasteMade is continuing to evolve and there are opportunities for further growth in the areas of brand strategy and digital media leadership.
By stepping out of her editor role, Lily forged an eclectic career path, testing out and implementing strategic growth opportunities for TasteMade. Whether she’ll continue to climb the ranks in the digital media field or break out and venture into other fields, or surprise everyone with a complete left turn, remains to be seen.
The Impact of Her Story
Lily Max Cohen is an example of a generation that is trying to get their own way in the face of inherited fame. Her story from New York to California is not just one of relocation, it’s a story of independence and ambition.
In a world fixated on instant gratification and using family connections to get quick success, Lily’s approach is unique. She represents a refreshing example of one who had every opportunity to take the easy way, but chose instead the harder way of gaining respect through merit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lily Max Cohen do for a living?
Lily Max Cohen is currently Director of Brand Strategy at TasteMade, a digital media company in Santa Monica, California that focuses on food, lifestyle, and travel content.
How old is Lily Max Cohen?
Lily Max Cohen was born November 25, 1993, which means she is now 31 years old.
Where did Lily Max Cohen go to college?
Lily graduated from Northwestern University in 2015 with a communication studies bachelor’s degree.
Is Lily Max Cohen a journalist just like her parents?
Unlike her parents who were occupied with traditional journalism, Lily decided to take a different route in digital content and lifestyle media, which shows her flexibility and laid-back nature.
Who are Lily Max Cohen’s brothers and sisters?
Lily has two older brothers; Benjamin Edwin Cohen (born 1989) who works in Silicon Valley and Gabriel Anthony Cohen (born 1991) a reporter in Seattle.
What happened to Lily Max Cohen’s father?
Richard M. Cohen died on Christmas Eve, 2024 after fighting pneumonia for two months.
Does Lily Max Cohen Appear On TV?
Lily made memorable appearances on “The Meredith Vieira Show” but has decided to not do an on-camera career, preferring to work behind the scenes in digital media.
