LDC Top 50 2025
Laura Earnshaw
Founder and CEO
myHappymind
When Laura Earnshaw’s child struggled to settle in primary school, she taught them the same coping strategies she was instilling in FTSE 100 CEOs. “We worked on self-regulation, self-esteem and resilience,” explains the former Global Head of HR.
“It had such an impact that the school called me in. They had other kids that needed help.” She left her corporate career to start myHappymind in 2016 and now her NHS-endorsed and King’s Award-winning programme is being taught in 2,000 schools, improving the lives of one million children, parents and teachers. “We have to start taking preventative mental health education seriously.”
Our philosophy is that every child has the right to positive mental wellbeing education. It should be as fundamental as numeracy and literacy.”
Q&A
What’s unique about myHappymind?
Our philosophy is that every child has the right to positive mental well-being education. It should be as fundamental as numeracy and literacy. We are the only NHS-backed mental health curriculum in schools. On average, we deliver a 40x return on investment because of the reduction in referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), the improvement in attendance and the reduction in exclusions.
What is your ambition for the business?
We are in 8 per cent of schools across the UK, but we are growing by 70 per cent each year. I’m determined to get into every school. We are also working with schools in Dubai, Thailand and Spain, and our international ambitions are strong and gaining rapid pace. But the UK is where I’m from, so changing children’s lives in the UK remains front and centre.
How do you get the best out of your people?
We insist on having our people in the office four days a week because our culture is all about collaboration, connectedness and doing things together. Beyond that, there is a lot of flexibility around working hours, a lot of time for play and we offer many benefits including time off for birthdays and giving blood. We believe in giving back and supporting charities, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities, both financially and with our time. I also sit on the Board of the Mental Health Foundation and am Chair of Governors at a School.
