Laura Earnshaw was the surprise winner at GP Bullhound’s 2025 Northern Tech Awards – until the CEO of myHappymind opened her mouth.
She describes herself as a ‘Mum on a mission’ to teach every single child in the ‘UK and beyond’ how to look after their own mental health.
Earnshaw is a former global head of talent and diversity at AstraZeneca and founded the business nine years ago, growing it to a multi-million pound turnover with a staggering 50 per cent EDITDA.
The achievement is all the more noteworthy because she’s done it with zero investment.
They’re the sort of numbers that make people sit up – but it’s the transformation that she’s bringing to children’s mental health that she wants myHappymind to be known for.
Before setting up myHappyMind, Earnshaw spent 15 years working with global CEOs and universities like Harvard Business School, helping top leaders develop resilience, the ability to cope with change and leadership skills.
She realised that children weren’t being taught the same skills in schools so set up myHappymind to deliver the course to schools.
She said: “The problem is it’s a perfect storm. You’ve got more prevalence of mental health issues than ever before. One in five children have got a mental health issue. That works out at about six in every classroom.
“However, the NHS is creaking at the seams, so the waiting time for help in some areas can be a year or more.
“A primary school age child could be in real need of mental health support, but have to wait a year, or more, to get the specialist support they need. And while they wait, typically things just get worse.
“What we do is teach children from as young as three preventative strategies so they don’t get to that point where they need that help. It takes pressure off the NHS and helps kids thrive.”
The company’s work in some areas has resulted in a 60 per cent fall in exclusions, a 67 per cent drop in children requiring SENco support and a 43 per cent drop in CAMHS referrals.
myHappymind is based in Alderley Edge and is backed by the NHS. It now employs 30 people, including Earnshaw’s husband Tim, who is the chief operating officer.
She said: “I started it nine years ago as a Mum on a mission. I’d seen the appalling state of mental health services and the impact it had on children.
“I decided I wanted to disrupt education and build something so that every single child in the country would receive a positive mental health education.
“We support a culture change in school so that every single child learns how to look after their own mental health.”
The company has grown at between 50-80 per cent since it started – without raising any investment.
“I’ve bootstrapped the whole thing,” she said. “I’m the 100 per cent owner.
“It’s amazing to win the Judges’ Overall Award at the Northern Tech Awards, especially as a female entrepreneur.
“First and foremost I’m a Mum. I built all this through Covid while I was homeschooling my children.
“I’ve not raised money so I’m not in the ‘tech bro’ scene. I’ve just got my head down and delivered the business. It means everything to be recognised.”
myHappymind was also voted the North’s 11th fastest growing company at Thursday’s Northern Tech Awards.