REDEFINING WELLNESS
How Two Women Are Changing the Conversation
In a world increasingly obsessed with instant fixes and buzzword health trends, I find it refreshing—necessary, even—to spotlight those who go beyond the noise and build real solutions rooted in science, empathy, and personal experience. Two women, from vastly different corners of the world, are doing just that: Dr. Mika Gupta of Mama Bird in the U.S. and Leslie Kenny of Oxford Healthspan in the U.K. Their journeys are deeply personal, their missions laser-focused, and their results speak volumes. And they define the modern female entrepreneur.
For Dr. Mika Gupta, the turning point came just moments after one of the most pivotal events in a woman’s life: giving birth. In December 2013, Mika welcomed her son Ajax into the world—only to be told minutes later that he was born with Down Syndrome. As a neurologist and neurochemistry expert trained at MIT, this wasn’t just a diagnosis—it was a deeply personal challenge that collided with her professional identity.
Like many mothers, Mika ran through the endless “what ifs.” Despite knowing she wasn’t to blame, the experience ignited a fire in her. She began examining the prenatal vitamins and supplements she had taken. What she found shocked her: artificial dyes, synthetic fillers, and outdated formulations that failed to consider brain development. That realization became her mission.
Out of this came Mama Bird, formerly known as Best Nest Wellness. It’s not just a supplement brand—it’s a neuro-nutrition movement. Mika created formulas that support brain development, mood balance, memory, and focus—not just for babies, but for parents too. It’s about the whole family and the lifelong impact of brain-first wellness. She isn’t pushing a product; she’s offering a solution informed by both medical expertise and maternal instinct.
Half a world away, Leslie Kenny was facing a different kind of battle—one for her life. At 39, she was diagnosed with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and later Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Doctors told her to prepare for permanent disability and infertility. But Leslie, a Harvard-educated entrepreneur, wasn’t ready to accept that fate.
Through integrative and functional medicine, she reversed her symptoms—completely. And in doing so, she gave birth to a new passion: uncovering the biological tools to help others thrive. Her research led her to spermidine, a natural compound found in foods like wheat germ and natto that promotes autophagy—your body’s cellular renewal system. The science was there, the benefits were clear, but there was no quality consumer product on the market.
So, she founded Oxford Healthspan and launched Primeadine®, a clinically inspired supplement designed to support healthy aging, better sleep, improved skin, and cognitive clarity. Leslie doesn’t just sell longevity—she lives it. At 60, her biological age clocks in at 21. And while the science is cutting-edge, her message is timeless: take charge of your health before the system fails you.
What ties these two extraordinary women together is more than just entrepreneurial drive. It’s the deeply human experience of turning personal adversity into public good. They are mothers, survivors, scientists, and wellness advocates who understand that true health doesn’t come from reactive medicine—it comes from proactive, intentional living.
They’ve built brands with brains—literally. Mika is giving families the tools to support cognitive wellness from conception onward. Leslie is helping people reclaim their vitality at the cellular level. Both are rewriting the rules around what women-led health ventures can do—and why they matter.
In today’s health and wellness landscape, it’s easy to get swept up in trends. But the stories of Mika Gupta and Leslie Kenny remind us that real change comes from real people who refuse to settle. These are the kinds of entrepreneurs who aren’t just improving lives—they’re redefining what it means to live well.
And frankly, we need more of them. At least that’s my opinion and that of millions across the globe.
To learn more about Oxford Healthspan,
please visit oxfordhealthspan.com
To learn more about Mama Bird,
please visit lovemamabird.com