Jonathan Bannister
Jonathan Bannister is the Founder, Strategist, and Executive Coach at Make Happy, London – an innovation consultancy in the UK.
Described by collaborators and clients as “a storm of energy, focus, and can-do enthusiasm; a catalyst for creative thinking; and an exceptional phenomenon in the marketing world,” Jonathan Bannister has carved out a unique identity as an executive coach and a specialist in creative problem-solving. With over 20 years of experience, he has helped hundreds of organisations innovate with clarity and confidence.
A truly original thinker with vast brand expertise and commercial acumen, Jonathan consistently strives to innovate and progress, whether collaborating with clients, working with colleagues, or pursuing his own personal development.
Make Happy, founded by Jonathan Bannister in 2010, designs and delivers practical, creative sessions that go far beyond traditional brainstorming. Our programmes and training sessions like LEGO® Serious Play®, Creative Problem-Solving and Problem-Solving Sprints are grounded in research-based methodologies that blend rigour with play, giving your team the tools for clearer thinking, better ideas, and stronger alignment.
Jonathan is also co-founder of The LAB School, which is both an online platform and in-person initiative to teach skills and empower the next generation of out-of-the-box thinkers in Creative Problem-Solving, Effective Facilitation, Problem-Solving Sprints, Difficult Conversations at Work, and Psychological Safety in the workplace.
Jonathan is a Learning Partner at Portal, the innovation centre at Trinity College Dublin; is part of the core education faculty of the Creative Education Foundation in the USA and teaches their Foundation Course in Creative Problem Solving; is a council member of the G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture in Mumbai; he is a certified Lego Serious Play instructor and facilitator and member of the International Association of Facilitators.
Jonathan created the Social Business Canvas to help social entrepreneurs map and strengthen their business models and was listed as one of the 100 on the second ‘Maserati 100’ index; a definitive list of Britain’s most successful philanthropists, investors, mentors and advisors who are today supporting the next generation of up and coming business talent; for his work with social entrepreneurs.