Denise Medved is a speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of the Ageless Grace Brain Health Program, a groundbreaking system that combines movement and neuroscience to combat cognitive decline. After witnessing her mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s, Denise transformed her grief into purpose, devoting her life to helping people around the world maintain brain health through joyful movement. Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and empowerment—an inspiring journey that embodies why Humans of Fuzia shares voices that uplift and empower women across the globe.
Q: What inspired you to start your company and focus on brain health?
I spent nearly 38 years in advertising, marketing, and branding in New York and San Francisco. But when my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I was shocked—she was an intellectual, always reading, teaching, and doing puzzles. Yet she had done no physical exercise. I began researching and discovered that movement is central to brain health. The brain’s primary purpose is to control the body’s movement, and exercise stimulates neurons and creates vital neural pathways. That realization led me back to school, where I studied neuroscience and gerontology, and ultimately created Ageless Grace, a program now being used in 34 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
Q: What challenges did you face in building this program?
My background was in an entirely different field, so I had to pivot and start learning from scratch. That meant going back to school, researching, and earning certifications in neuroscience. Thankfully, today there are more resources, scholarships, and opportunities for people interested in emerging fields like brain health. It was challenging, but also exciting to step into uncharted territory.
Q: Do you work alone or have a team supporting you?
I have a team of seven people. Two of them are very involved daily, while others work remotely from different states and cities. The beauty of today’s world is that you can collaborate with skilled people from anywhere, all united by a common mission.
Q: What are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
Every woman’s voice is needed—whether it’s in her community, her state, or globally. The feminine perspective is powerful, and it’s time for it to be heard more. No voice is too small or insignificant. Even a single step taken at the local level can have an immense impact. The world has been dominated by male voices for so long; now, the balance requires women to rise and lead.
Q: How do you personally define success?
For me, success is twofold: doing something that makes you truly happy and doing something that makes the world a better place.
“No female voice is too small or too quiet—the world needs every woman to step up and lead in her own way.” – Denise Medved
Connect with Denise Medved: Denise Medved | LinkedIn
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