Jessica Lyonford

About Jessica Lyonford

I spent years watching brilliant, capable leaders run themselves into the ground and not because they were doing it wrong, but because nobody ever gave them the right tools.That gap is why I built Project More Happy.I\'m Jessica Lyonford, leadership strategist, culture designer, behavioral science nerd and someone who believes that sustainable ambition is not a contradiction in terms.My work sits at the intersection of positive psychology, neuroscience and organizational systems. And it starts with a premise most leadership development ignores: burnout is a design flaw.The frameworks I\'ve built—The Happy Skills™, The Energy–Impact Model and StayPower™—give leaders and organizations a concrete, science-backed path from depletion to durable performance. Not through hustle. Not through perks. Through leadership capacity: the ability to regulate pressure, think clearly, make good decisions and build cultures that people actually want to stay in.This work has shown up in boardrooms, on stages, inside organizations and on the pages of The Happy Leader Playbook and The Unhappy American. It\'s rigorous. It\'s practical. And it works.Happy leaders aren\'t soft. They\'re strategic. They don\'t accept burnout as the price of ambition. Instead, they build something better instead.If you want to experience this approach before you commit to anything, start with the Happy Leader Power Hour, my monthly leadership session designed to build StayPower™ where it matters most.→ jessicalyonford.com

Experience

1. the Happiness Architect Pioneering People Infrastructure

   Project More Happy

   Jan 2023 — Present · Portland, OR, US

   The science is settled: when humans feel good, organizations outperform. I\'m the person who builds that infrastructure.Leaders and organizations don\'t burn out because they\'re weak but because the system was never designed for humans. I fix the system.As a leadership strategist, culture designer and best-selling author of The Happy Leader Playbook, I partner with executives and organizations to build cultures that perform sustainably. The methodology is The Happy Skills™: eight behavior-based leadership competencies grounded in behavioral science and positive psychology that drive what I call StayPower™—engagement that lasts, performance that doesn\'t deplete and cultures people don\'t want to leave.The business case is clear:Companies that prioritize happiness outperform the S&P 500 and Dow Jones by 20%.(Highest Wellbeing Places to Work Report)The results are real:Clients negotiating $15K+ raises. Execs reclaiming confidence, clarity and decision-making power. Leaders who\'ve stopped white-knuckling their careers and started building something that lasts.\"Hiring you was one of the best decisions I\'ve made for my career and financial growth.\"\"I went from confused and overwhelmed to confident, aligned, and excited.\"\"Jess helped me verbalize my value. I\'ve never felt more seen or empowered.\"This is leadership, leveled up with data, depth and a whole lot of heart.→ Consulting · Workshops · Speaking · Happy Leader Power Hour→ jessicalyonford.comWe\'re not here to survive leadership. We\'re here to love it.

Education

• Texas Christian University

  BS, Advertising and Sociology

  2001 — 2005

• Chicago Portfolio School

  Art Direction

  2005 — 2007

Skills

• Art Direction
• Creative Strategy
• Creative Direction
• Advertising
• Interactive Advertising
• Interactive Marketing
• Concept Development
• Typography
• Integrated Marketing
• Graphic Design
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Digital Strategy
• Indesign
• Logo Design
• Direct Mail
• Copywriting
• Branding & Identity
• Corporate Identity
• Layout
• Illustration
• Brochures
• Marketing Communications
• Letterpress
• Brand Development
• Photoshop
• Graphics
• Outdoor Advertising
• Posters
• Packaging
• Interaction Design
• Collateral
• Corporate Branding
• Visual Communication
• User Experience
• Image Manipulation
• Web Design
• Creative Services
• Digital Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• Social Media