Happiness Coach & Consultant | Founder of Project More Happy

Jessica Lyonford isn’t just talking about happiness—she’s leading a movement to make it the norm in leadership, not the exception.

As the founder of Project More Happy, Jessica empowers high-achieving leaders and teams to design for happiness on purpose—a bold shift from burnout-driven hustle culture to leadership that fuels energy, engagement, and impact.

With her frameworks like The Eight Pillars of Happiness, Happy Leadership, and the Energy-Impact Model, Jessica transforms the science of happiness into real-world tools leaders can use to create workplaces that actually work—for people and performance.

From Burnout to Breakthrough

Jessica’s path began in the high-pressure world of advertising, where she saw firsthand what happens when leaders prioritize output over well-being. As she rose through the ranks, she tried to protect her team—often at the cost of her own happiness.

💥 That choice almost broke her.

It wasn’t until she hit emotional rock bottom—navigating postpartum depression while returning to work just two weeks after giving birth—that she realized something had to change.

“That moment cracked something open,” she shares. “I refused to stay stuck. I chose happiness. And from that decision, everything changed.”

Her personal journey through positive psychology, neuroscience, and leadership development led to a powerful realization: Happiness isn’t fluff—it’s fuel.

The Challenge of Going Against the Grain

Designing for happiness still feels radical in many business circles. Jessica admits that shifting the mindset of hustle-first leadership is one of her biggest challenges.

But the reward?

💡 “Watching people step into their leadership energy and realize how much influence they have—it’s transformative. That shift from surviving to intentionally creating? That changes everything.”

Jessica’s Advice to Women: Don’t Settle

“The opposite of happiness isn’t sadness—it’s complacency,” Jessica says.

Her advice for women leaders is simple but powerful:
✅ Don’t be passive.
✅ Don’t settle.
✅ Own your power to shape the world around you.

“When we stop waiting and start designing lives we love, that’s when we rise. That’s when we lead differently—and change everything.”

Looking Ahead: Making Happy Leadership the New Standard

Jessica is on a mission to make designing for happiness a business best practice.

That’s why she:
📘 Wrote The Happy Leader Playbook
🎙 Hosts the Project: More Happy Podcast featuring leaders who are rewriting the rules
🎯 Works with organizations to shift from burnout to brilliance

“We don’t need more productivity hacks,” she says. “We need more humanity.”

The Power of Community: How IAW Helps Fuel the Journey

For Jessica, IAW isn’t just a network—it’s a movement.

“The women here inspire me to show up bigger, bolder, and more unapologetically myself,” she shares.

Whether it’s through Monday Masterminds, one-on-one connections, or simply sharing space with like-minded leaders, IAW has helped Jessica grow as a business owner, a leader, and a woman.

Her Message to New IAW Members:

“Be intentional. Show up. Ask for what you need and offer what you can.”

✨ “The energy you put in is the energy you get back. Want more momentum? More support? More impact? Start by giving that energy to yourself first.”

The Heart of Her Message

If there’s one thing Jessica wants every reader to know, it’s this:

💛 You have the power to design a life you actually love. It’s already in you—you don’t have to earn it. You just have to claim it.

Ready to step into Happy Leadership and change the way you work, live, and lead?
Visit www.jessicalyonford.com to learn more or connect with Jessica on the IAW Inner Circle.