About The Thriving Lawyer

The Thriving Lawyer was founded by Kathleen and Carla from a shared belief that thriving in the legal profession requires more than simply coping with pressure.

Lawyers are increasingly being asked to manage greater complexity, heavier workloads and broader responsibility while also leading people, influencing stakeholders and adapting to significant change. Yet many of the qualities that contribute to success in law — high standards, responsiveness, attention to detail and a strong sense of responsibility — can become limiting when overused.

We came together because our experience approached this challenge from two complementary perspectives.

Kathleen brings more than 17 years of experience as a practising lawyer, facilitator and professional educator. She understands the realities of legal practice from the inside and the particular mindsets, pressures and expectations that shape how lawyers work.

Carla brings more than a decade of executive and leadership coaching experience, over 3,000 coaching hours and an international commercial leadership background. Her work focuses on helping capable professionals navigate increasing complexity, transition from expert to leader and develop greater self-awareness, influence and adaptability.

Together, we combine deep understanding of the legal profession with evidence-based coaching psychology, leadership development and sustainable performance.

Our work is designed to help lawyers and legal teams maintain the high standards their work demands while developing the human capabilities increasingly required to lead and perform well: self-leadership, judgement, adaptability, communication, reflection, influence and the ability to work effectively through others.

Through coaching, facilitation and professional development, we help lawyers move beyond simply managing the demands of their work towards performing, leading and thriving more sustainably.

Let’s discuss how we can support your lawyers and legal leaders.

Kathleen Brenner

Workplace Coach, Facilitator, Lawyer & Co-Founder

Kathleen is a practising lawyer, coach and facilitator with more than 17 years’ experience across government and private legal practice. She brings a deep understanding of the realities of legal work and a strong “peer-coach” perspective to her work with lawyers and legal teams. 

Alongside her legal career, Kathleen has extensive experience designing and delivering professional education, workshops, CPDs and skills development programs for lawyers and public officials.

She is completing a Master of Science in Coaching Psychology at the University of Sydney and draws on evidence-based approaches including coaching psychology, positive psychology, solution-focused and cognitive-behavioural practice.

Kathleen is known for a style that is empathetic, practical and appropriately challenging.

Carla Ferraz 

Executive & Leadership Coach, Facilitator & Co-Founder 

Carla is an Executive and Leadership Coach with more than a decade of coaching experience and over 3,000 hours working with professionals from emerging leaders through to senior executives and CEOs. 

Before becoming a coach, she spent more than a decade in international business development and commercial leadership in the energy sector, working across Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Mexico and Australia.

Her coaching is grounded in evidence-based coaching psychology and informed by adult development, positive psychology, behaviour change and sustainable performance.

Carla is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), is working towards her MCC credential and is completing a Master of Science in Coaching Psychology at the University of Sydney.