Edu-Entrepreneur: Gianna Lucas!
Gianna Lucas. Gianna is an award-winning Motivational Speaker, Youth Life Coach and Co-Founder & CEO at Happow, a gamified life skills education provider partnering with Australia's top experts to future-proof the lives of young people in high school and beyond. Featuring 50+ hours of Life Lessons (life skills courses) and 100+ Power Talks (mini motivational videos), their gamified eLearning life skills platform gives youth access to on demand insights, tips and strategies around money, health and wellness, community, DIY, career and relationships, in addition to their transformative in-person programs. Gianna is on a mission to empower the next generation with the tools they need to recognise their unique potential and pursue their goals with passion, purpose and conviction.
As a young person, Gianna had a chronic and debilitating anxiety disorder for many years. In her adult life she has shared her transformative story, insights and strategies to over 30,000 people through an array of personal development initiatives. In 2024, Gianna was named a recipient of the Global Women Peace Ambassador Award by the Women’s Federation for World Peace for her exemplary accomplishments in the area of youth empowerment. In addition to running Happow, Gianna is a proud member of Workforce Australia’s Local Jobs & Skills Taskforce for Inner Metropolitan Melbourne, advocating for pre-employment initiatives that are holistic, robust and relatable, so that each young person is set up for success the moment they transition into suitable and sustainable employment.
Happow focuses on engaging and inspiring young people. What motivated you to create a platform specifically aimed at teenagers?
We launched Happow during the pandemic, however the desire to create it was on my heart for many years before that. In my career I have had the privilege of sharing my story and insights to many schools and organisations. On my drive home, after presenting, I would often wonder what supports were in place for the youth I was speaking to post-program, particularly at home. I would ask questions like who they rely on for support and insights, particularly around having a healthy mindset, building resilience and leadership. This led me to do some research where I found in a lot of cases the home environments weren't always ideal, in conjunction with schools having limited resources due to budgeting constraints. So my Co-Founder Brendan and I decided to create a platform with a stack of fun on-demand life skills content that's empowering and entertaining so young people can continue their personal development journey. The more they learn, the more Power Points they earn, as well as badges and certificates. We like to think Happow is a mentor in their pocket, one they can access wherever and whenever they want.
How do you decide which topics and issues are most relevant and interesting for the content on Happow?
Our mission is to future-proof the lives of young people in high school and beyond. We also take a holistic approach when it comes to life skills. In order to do this, we have 6 key content pillars: money, health and wellness, community, DIY, career and relationships. From surveying young people as well as schools and organisations, we find that the most popular topics are around mentoring & role models, career pathways, toxic relationships, goal setting, money management, confidence & resilience, so we try to cover as many of these themes as possible on our gamified eLearning life skills platform. The same goes with our complementary in-person programs too.
Can you tell us about your education background and how it helped shape your career path?
This is a big question! I'll try my best to keep my answer short. When I was 14 years old I won a recording contract. This was a huge deal for me because for a long time my anxiety disorder was so prevalent I struggled going to school and the shops most days. For me to be in a position where I could perform with confidence and minimal fear was an amazing accomplishment. Being thrusted into the entertainment industry as a teen meant I got to experience what it's also like being behind a mic not just on stage, but when being interviewed. This is where my love and passion for media started. The other key point to make is when I was able to better understand my anxiety disorder and work through it, I made a commitment 'to use my voice for social good'. It became a bit of a mantra. So combining my love for media and my heart to help others, I studied a Bachelor of Journalism whilst volunteering for community organisations raising important issues that I cared about. This led me to work full time in the media industry where I was a breakfast radio producer, as well as presenter. Through hosting a podcast called Promenade With Me sum years ago, I was asked to contribute my insights on a number of platforms. This then led to me working for the likes of Beautiful Minds, as well as Bridge Builders Youth Organisation where I was a board member for 2.5 years, whilst also obtaining a Certificate in Mental Health First Aid. I have been blessed to design and facilitate many leadership and personal development programs including my own extensive coaching programs, courses and workshops for teens. Looking back all of these experiences and on-the-job training provided me with the perfect foundation to launch Happow.
What subjects or courses in school were most helpful for your career, and why?
I was always very creative so I decided to study subjects that brought me the most amount of joy, as well as those I knew could give me the best career options post-school. In Year 11 I studied general mathematics, but didn't continue with it in Year 12 as it wasn't a required subject to commence a Bachelor of Journalism. In Year 11 I studied one Year 12 subject Text and Traditions so I finished school with 6 subjects. In Year 12 I studied English, Drama, Theatre Studies, Music and a VET subject – Certificate III in Media Industries: Radio Broadcasting. This subject was awesome as I got to learn on-site at a radio station near my home. A really hands-on and fun course. I really feel these subjects helped me become more confident and solidify my desire to use my creative skills to make a positive difference, which I still do today! I also want to mention here that in Year 12 I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue. So with this said, my number one advice is to pace yourself. Enjoy the journey and not just the destination. Be sure to choose subjects you like and feel can help you thrive not just in the long run. Make sure you rest and take regular breaks. Go for mindful walks, watch fun movies, keep hydrated, get a good amount of sleep each night and practice gratitude on the daily.
Were there any mentors or role models who influenced your decision to become an entrepreneur? If yes, who were they and how did they help you?
First and foremost Oprah! I grew up watching her show with my mum. She was and always has been an inspiration for a whole host of reasons. Closer to home, I remember hearing Hugh van Cuylenburg speak at a conference my friend Sharon Witt was hosting a number of years ago. His story and mission was so encouraging. His words and career journey also helped to solidify my own goal to empower the next generation with key life skills so they can realise and pursue their potential with confidence and conviction. When I first commenced my entrepreneurial journey, I really loved reading the book called Mastering Your Mean Girl by Melissa Ambrosini too. Her insights and personal journey in overcoming limiting beliefs really helped me too.
How did you know that the idea for your company was the right one to pursue?
Having on-the-ground experience coupled with the understanding that we, especially young people live on our phones, I knew creating an eLearning platform was the right way to go. With the advancement of AI, soft skills and creative thinking are even more desirable and needed in the workplace. With our eLearning platform, our members learn and grow as they prepare for the future. We also knew that face-to-face experiences are still sought after (and rightly so), which is why we run our transformative Power Up Life workshop series and Hustle Hub pre-employment program to further support the personal development journey of young people which then continues on our gamified eLearning life skills platform. I also want to say that whenever I feel at peace about a decision, I know everything will work out, even if it takes time. I have this rationale in both business and in life. Another takeaway is to give things a real good go. Test, try, learn and grow. I promise that's where the magic happens.
What was the biggest risk you took in starting your own company, and how did you handle the fear or uncertainty that came with it?
Like so many businesses, one of the biggest risks we took was a financial one. We've bootstrapped our business from day one and therefore have had to be really discerning in how we propel it forward so the business is sustainable. The other big risk was and still is time. Time is finite. Though we all have 24 hours a day, we can't work that whole time, we have to rest, sleep and eat too! So I think being aware of how we're spending our time is important. By doing so, we can maximise our input to get the best output, especially being a super small team. I officially left my job mid 2023 to pursue Happow full time. That was a big step for me but I felt it was the right one. What helped me make this decision was putting a plan together and a timeline. This provided me with the tools I needed to best move forward. Having the support of my partner/co-founder certainly helped, as well as the wonderful people in my network. As they say, there's no 'I' in 'team'!
Franc’s Fast Five
Favourite Subject in School? Drama
Sweet or Savoury? Savoury
Books or Movies? I love both equally... BUT I'm writing a YA fantasy series at the moment, so I have to say books!
Hidden Talent? I can pick the make and model of a car from a far distance in a matter of seconds
Go to holiday destination? Cinque Terre in Italy