Strong Women, Smart Ageing: How Leslie Kenny Is Redefining Longevity in Business and Life

As February draws to a close and we move into March, thoughts often turn to the women who inspire, lead and shape the world around us. From business founders to scientists, creatives and carers, the upcoming International Women’s Day offers a moment to celebrate the strong female figures in our lives and the paths they have forged. One such woman is longevity expert and entrepreneur Leslie Kenny, whose personal health journey led her to build a global wellness brand and rethink what ageing can look like.

From Diagnosis to Determination

Leslie Kenny was just 39 when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Doctors told her she had only a handful of good years ahead. Rather than accept this prognosis, she began a deep exploration into longevity, healthspan and the tools that could help her feel stronger and look younger.

Today, in her 60s, she no longer shows the biomarkers of the conditions she was once diagnosed with and claims a biological age decades younger than her chronological one. As the founder and chief executive of luxury anti-ageing supplement brand Oxford Healthspan, Kenny has turned her personal mission into a business focused on empowering others to age well.

Heat, Sleep and the Science of Recovery

Kenny is a strong advocate for sauna use, describing heat bathing as a way to stimulate the body’s natural stress response and restore balance. Short exposures to heat can increase circulation, support detoxification and improve sleep, all of which contribute to overall vitality.

Sleep, she says, is one of the most powerful tools for healthy ageing. To protect her circadian rhythm, she uses blue light blocking glasses in the evening to reduce disruption from digital screens and support natural melatonin production.

Cellular Renewal and the Role of Nutrition

One of the pillars of Kenny’s longevity approach is spermidine, a naturally occurring compound that supports autophagy, the body’s cellular clean-up process. Levels decline with age, so she prioritises spermidine-rich foods such as shiitake mushrooms and natto, alongside supplements derived from Japanese sources, including the longevity hotspot of Okinawa.

She believes supporting cellular renewal can have visible benefits, from improved skin and hair to better sleep and energy levels, while also influencing deeper ageing pathways linked to inflammation and stem cell health.

Building Strength Through Innovation

Kenny also incorporates Ka’atsu bands into her routine, a blood flow restriction training method used by elite athletes and older populations alike. By temporarily restricting and releasing blood flow in the limbs, the technique signals the body to release growth hormone and build muscle without heavy weights.

She prefers this method to synthetic growth hormone injections, highlighting the body’s natural ability to regulate its own hormone production.

Light Therapy and Everyday Wellness

Red light therapy is another tool Kenny uses to support recovery and energy. Wearable red and near-infrared light devices can penetrate deep into tissues, promoting healing and reducing discomfort in joints and muscles. She often uses these devices during travel to counteract stiffness and fatigue.

A Holistic Approach to Longevity

While technology and supplements play a role, Kenny emphasises that longevity does not have to be complicated. Time outdoors, daily movement and meaningful social connections remain foundational to ageing well.

Her work extends beyond personal practice. As co-founder of the Oxford Longevity Project, she is involved in research and public education around healthy ageing and will host the annual Smart Ageing Summit at Oxford University later this year.

Celebrating Women in Longevity and Leadership

Kenny’s story reflects a broader narrative of women transforming personal challenges into professional purpose. In a sector often dominated by scientific research and male-led biotech companies, she represents a growing cohort of female founders reshaping the conversation around health, ageing and wellbeing.

As International Women’s Day approaches, her journey serves as a reminder that resilience, curiosity and entrepreneurship can redefine not only careers but also the way we understand ageing itself.