James Lawrence

President/Founder

I believe in PEOPLE and the power of COMMUNITY. A great TEAM is the most important competitive advantage any organization can have.

At POWER, our mission is simple yet powerful: We fuel automotive dreams. Whether you’re behind the wheel, tinkering in the garage, or chasing down the next 200 mph thrill, we create stories, events, and videos to entertain, inspire, and connect. Cars ignite our passions, build vibrant communities, and create unforgettable moments—and we’re here to share that magic with the world.

I’m focused on pushing the loud pedal every day, driving innovation, and connecting with fellow enthusiasts to deliver exceptional automotive content and experiences.

I also run a tech startup called HAPPY – which delivers intelligent coaching based on behavioral science. That has been an amazing experience as well.

My leadership journey wasn’t straightforward—I learned early on that real authority doesn’t come from a title. It comes from understanding your team, building trust, and fostering a culture where people thrive. That belief has shaped every company I’ve launched, every team I’ve led, and every decision I’ve made.

Here’s a bit about me:
	•	Launched four startups, including Happy, our tech coaching platform
	•	Former Chairman of the Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association (SEMA)
	•	National champion in auto racing and youth football coaching
	•	Proud husband to Melissa and dad to Bradley, Jordan, and Taylor

When I’m not leading the team at POWER/HAPPY or spending time with my family, you’ll find me:
	•	Coaching youth football
	•	Chasing the next adrenaline rush behind the wheel
	•	Diving into great books like The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

I love connecting with like-minded people who share a passion for innovation, leadership, and creating incredible experiences. Whether it’s through a podcast, public speaking, or collaborating with entrepreneurs and visionaries, I’m always looking for opportunities to share ideas and solve big problems.

💌 Let’s connect: james@powerautomedia.com

At my core, I believe the cornerstone of every great organization is its people. My mission has always been to create extraordinary things by unlocking the power of connection, collaboration, and passion—whether that’s in the workplace, at the racetrack, or in a garage full of wrenches and dreams.

CEO & Cofounder

In the new era of work, building effective teams is more important than ever to organizational performance. Happy enhances organizational culture, communication and manager effectiveness at scale – making your people your competitive advantage. Happy is a coaching platform that uses behavioral science & AI to build a user manual for your entire team in less than 10 minutes.

City of Cape Town

Results driven FM profession with a strong background in facilities management; corporate general services, maintenance, and project management. I ensure that  facility management activities and tasks are fully coordinated, appropriatelty authorized and performed in a planned and effective manner. Address and rectify outstanding maintenance issues in coordination with all internal and external parties involved. Ensure proper coordination in developing preventantive and reactive maintenance programs. Perform day-to-day monitoring of vendor performance to ensure full compliance with standards established within the service agreement. Participate in preparation of project annual budget through estimating maintenance costs and future projections. Supervise subordinate staff, assign work activities, monitor performance and review results.

Senior Superintendent

-	Participate in the planning and design of the projects, from the pre-planning stage to obtaining statutory approvals (Town Planning and Environmental Authorisation); development and approvals of final designs, obtaining final design approvals from line departments.

Assistant Professional Officer

Group Five "Structured Ingenuity"​

-	Effectively oversee all site construction activity, ensure compliance with all site quality control      standards and procedures. Effectively manage the use of plant, equipment and materials, and effectively manage all site safety requirements.

Site Engineer

Shar Civils

Civil Engineering Technician

Results- driven, forward thinking, strategic, self-motivated and dynamic Construction Project Manager with solid experience in delivering capital & operational projects in the built environment.

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The Battle

James Lawrence

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