• A middle-aged woman with short, reddish-brown hair, wearing a black pinstripe blazer and a delicate necklace, standing against a plain light-colored background.
  • A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a red and white striped shirt, black jeans, and a leopard print jacket, is reclining on the wing of an airplane, holding a small bottle in her right hand and smiling at the camera.
  • A woman smiling, wearing a blue jacket covered in patches related to aviation and the EAA, with arms crossed.
  • Two pilots in military flight suits with patches, one woman and one man, in the cockpit of a fighter jet under a clear blue sky. The woman is smiling.
  • A woman smiling and holding a book titled 'First Flights' sitting next to an older man with gray hair at a table with a blue curtain in the background.
  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a black blazer and white blouse, sitting at a conference table with papers and pens, gesturing with her hand while holding a pen, in a classroom or meeting room with a colorful poster of Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek in the background.
  • Three women are standing in a large banquet hall, celebrating an event. One woman is lifting a gift box with a big smile, a second woman has a gift box close to her mouth, and the third woman is looking down at something in front of her. There are chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and decorated tables around them with other attendees in the background.

Meet Jill

  • Jill Hoffman is an American writer, speaker, and entrepreneur known for her work exploring the intersection of human curiosity and technological innovation. She is the founder of In Her Orbit, a platform dedicated to unconventional thinking, and the author of How to Build an Airplane in Your Living Room: A Guide to Living an Unconventional Life.

    Born into an aviation legacy, Jill is the daughter of world-renowned pilot Dick Rutan and the niece of legendary aerospace designer Burt Rutan. Growing up surrounded by aviation pioneers, she developed an early appreciation for exploration and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

  • Jill began her career as the founder and CEO of Path 2 Flight, LLC, a company focused on inspiring future generations in aerospace. She has collaborated with leading space organizations, including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab, leveraging her expertise to connect the emotional aspects of human experience with technical innovation.

    As a writer, Jill has published multiple books, including How to Build an Airplane in Your Living Room, which chronicles her journey of embracing unconventional life choices and inspiring others to do the same. Her work often explores themes of adventure, resilience, and the importance of thinking beyond societal norms.

    In addition to writing, Jill is a sought-after speaker, delivering keynote addresses and workshops on innovation, unconventional problem-solving, and personal growth. She has spoken at industry conferences, academic institutions, and corporate events.

  • In 2025, Jill launched In Her Orbit, a brand dedicated to thought leadership at the intersection of technology and human curiosity. Through this initiative, she shares insights on space exploration, philosophical inquiries, and the future of innovation, positioning herself as a voice in the evolving landscape of human and technological advancement.

  • Jill regularly contributes articles on platforms such as Medium and Substack, where she writes about philosophy, science, and personal development. Her unique perspective, blending storytelling with analytical thinking, has garnered a growing readership.

  • Jill resides in the Washington, D.C., area, with her husband of 35 years. Their two daughters are grown but remain at the center of her world. When she’s not looking skyward, she’s currently at work on her first novel. Jill can often be found on the golf course or in the sky, indulging her lifelong love of flying.

Book cover titled "Edit Your Life as You Like: How to Build an Airplane in Your Living Room" by Jill Hoffman, featuring a woman standing on a small airplane on an airstrip with a model airplane in the background and a woman holding a drink, set against a sky with clouds.

Her Latest Book

A memoir of unabashed vulnerability. Jill Hoffman shares a backstage pass to a world of both legendary aviation heroes and brushes with Hollywood stars. Hoffman’s brave perspective on her unconventional life takes her readers beyond what they yearn for. She inspires us to be our true selves by putting our dreams into action, taking uncomfortable risks, and being resilient in the face of failure.”

— Amazon Review

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Previous Projects

Jill Hoffman has a history of turning vision into reality. From founding Path 2 Flight, a web-based platform that made flight training more accessible, to her non-profit work, she’s consistently broken new ground. As the creator of a non-profit that sent deserving young adults to space camps, she’s empowered countless individuals to reach for the stars. Jill’s projects reflect her commitment to innovation and her drive to create meaningful change, whether in the skies or on the ground.

Aerial view of a rural landscape with green fields, a river, and a city in the distance during sunset. Overlaying text reads 'H Path 2 Flight' with a vertical blue 'H' symbol.
Astronaut in space suit with a golden helmet and American flag patch, standing outdoors with a blurred background.

  • Path 2 Flight was a company Jill founded with one clear mission: to make aviation accessible by lowering the barriers that keep most people from ever taking their first step toward becoming a pilot.

    Built at the intersection of immersive technology and aviation training, Path 2 Flight created modern on-ramps into flight training using virtual reality, simplified pathways, and approachable first-flight experiences. The goal was to help anyone, regardless of background, age, or confidence, to step into the world of aviation without the overwhelm, the cost shock, or the feeling that flying is a world reserved for the chosen few.

    Path 2 Flight was designed to inspire curiosity, confidence, and the belief that flying is possible for every future aviator.

    Click on the image to learn more about the company and the vision behind it.

  • Looking Skyward is the nonprofit Jill founded to open doors for young people who want to explore aviation and space. Its mission is simple: give students real access to the experiences, programs, and opportunities that can spark a lifelong path in aerospace.

    Through scholarships, camp funding, and hands-on learning programs, Looking Skyward helps students step into environments where they can build skills, meet mentors, and see what’s possible for their future. The focus is on exposure, opportunity, and momentum—because one early experience can change the direction of a life.

    Click on the image to learn more about Looking Skyward and the programs it supports.

“If you had asked me years ago what my life would look like, I would have given you a crisp, well-thought-out answer. A logical plan. A trajectory that made sense.

And then life laughed.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the best stories rarely unfold the way we expect. The twist is always better than the plan.

I’ve zigzagged. I’ve leapt before looking. I’ve taken risks that made sense on paper and some that absolutely did not. And somehow, all of it brought me here—doing work I love, connecting with people who inspire me, and writing my own story in real-time.

Along the way, I’ve embraced the fact that things not going according to plan is sometimes the plan. That saying yes to the unexpected (and occasionally terrifying) is where the good stuff lives. That perfection is overrated, but curiosity? That’s everything.

So if you’re here, reading this, I’d guess you might be a little like me—drawn to the adventure of figuring things out as you go. Welcome. Let’s see where this takes us.”

Close-up of a woman with short auburn hair, wearing a black blouse and a delicate necklace, standing indoors with a neutral background.