About Make Human
Make Human helps founders of small agencies and service businesses build businesses that are easier to run. We’re here for the people carrying too much, providing experienced advice, fresh perspectives and practical support to make business feel less overwhelming.
Damian
Founder
I’ve spent most of my career in and around creative agencies. I’ve started one, run one for 13 years, worked in agencies large and small, and helped other founders build better businesses.
I’ve experienced the highs, the difficult decisions, the constant responsibility and the burnout that can come with running your own business. And I still run a UX agency today, so I know what it’s like from the inside.
My background in UX research has taught me how to listen, ask better questions and uncover the real problems beneath the surface. Those skills are just as useful when looking at a business as they are at a website.
These days, I work alongside founders, helping them make sense of challenges, work through difficult decisions and make practical improvements. Sometimes that’s about people, profitability or processes. Sometimes it’s simply about having someone experienced to talk things through with.
I’m not here to sell you a programme or push you towards faster growth. I’m here to help you build a business that works better for you.
Because running your own business should give you more freedom, not less.
"Damian brings real founder experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to build and run a business. Including mindset, sales, marketing, operations, and more. He understands the emotional reality of being a founder, and he genuinely cares. I’d highly recommend working with him."
Debbie
Operations Director
Debbie spent twenty years as a solicitor before joining Make Human. That background gives her the rare ability to stay calm when things are complicated and find the detail that everyone else missed.
She is also genuinely easy to talk to. Her kids are often found pulling her away from a conversation with a stranger in the supermarket. And clients find themselves opening up about things they wouldn't normally mention, which makes Debbie a vital part of how we work.
She supports clients with process design and client research, and keeps the business running with the same quiet precision she brought to law. She is also Damian's partner in business and in life, so Make Human is very much a family run business.
Why we started Make Human
Running a business can be lonely. The decisions are constant, the pressure can be relentless, and most founders carry far more than anyone realises.
I’ve been there. I’ve experienced burnout, questioned why I was working so hard and wondered whether running my own business was worth it.
I’ve also worked with coaches who seemed more interested in pushing me to grow than helping me work out what I actually wanted.
That’s part of why I started Make Human.
I believe running a business should give you a better life, not take over the one you’ve got. Sometimes that means making big changes. But often, it starts with having someone to talk to, getting some perspective and working out what really matters.
I want to help other founders avoid some of the struggles I’ve experienced.
And whether you become a client or not, if things are feeling heavy, get in touch. I’m always happy to listen.
FAQs
No. The whole point is to reduce your load, not add to it. We start by understanding what feels heavy right now, then focus on removing friction so you have fewer decisions and clearer ways of working.
You do not need to prepare anything before we speak. No frameworks to learn, no tasks to complete beforehand. We focus on small, realistic steps that make the business feel lighter, not busier.
Many founders say the very first conversation gives them clarity and relief straight away.
No. Most businesses feel messier on the inside than they look on the outside. That is completely normal, and we do not expect you to have it all figured out.
We are here to understand what is really going on and help you bring calm, clarity and structure back in a way that feels manageable. You do not need to impress us. You just need to show up as you are.
Most of the founders we work with run small, founder-led B2B businesses with between one and twenty people. Usually agencies, consultancies, studios, research practices, or specialist services selling expertise to other businesses.
The type of business matters less than where you're feeling the pain. If your role isn't as enjoyable as it should be, your business isn't running as well as it could, and you're tired of carrying everything alone, then we're probably worth talking to.
If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you and introduce you to someone better placed to help.
Every session is with Damian. Debbie sometimes helps with process design and client research and she'll often be the one chasing invoices too.
Still have questions?
Get in touch and we will give you a clear, honest answer. You can also book a call if you want to talk it through.
Let's start with a chat
Tell me what's going on in a 20-minute call. If I can't help, I'll say so.