Carla Lempera
Director of Engagement & Performance Optimization
Introduction
As the firm’s first Director of Engagement and Performance Optimization, Carla serves as an in-house, confidential resource to help guide our firmwide strategy around attorney performance excellence. She co-chairs the Mental Health and Well-Being Committee and is a key resource for our Engagement team, collaborating with other NP leaders to weave these priorities throughout all areas of the firm.
My focus
My passion, training, and experience intersect at the human connection. Alongside my work in mental health and well-being, I bring over two decades of experience as a client services professional. I draw on this knowledge to implement programs across offices and functional areas that empower high performance at the firm.
By extending my skills forged in the corporate world and formal training and clinical background working as a psychotherapist, I bring a wealth of experience in coaching, counseling, and mentoring in fast-paced work environments. I lead with the understanding that performance is a byproduct of wellness, and I focus my work on education, programming, and support that promotes optimal wellness and growth. With an integrative and holistic approach, I help facilitate strength, resilience, alignment, and self-leadership among all colleagues at Nixon Peabody.
Looking ahead
The legal profession is a demanding one with high expectations for performance. Sustained peak performance requires optimal wellbeing, but the industry reports some of the highest percentages of mental health challenges ultimately impacting all areas of work, life, and health. As a result, firms are turning to the clinical mental health community for research-backed, accessible, and practical strategies that build resilience and wellness among their workforces. Nixon Peabody is proud to be among the first to bring this experience in-house and cultivate an environment where people feel their mental health and well-being are supported.
/Insights
- Nixon Peabody, LLP is one of the inaugural signatories of the ABA Well-being Pledge recommitting year over year since 2018
- The latest survey results:
In the news
- Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
CDLB people
Oct 3, 2024This roundup article of legal industry news in the region features the NP arrival of Director of Engagement and Performance Optimization Carla Lempera, who is based in the Chicago office.
- Law360
Nixon Peabody creates new role to aid attorney mental health
Oct 2, 2024This article highlights the NP arrival of Director of Engagement and Performance Optimization Carla Lempera, who is based in the Chicago office. Carla is quoted in the coverage, discussing why she chose to join NP, how her skills align with the role, and what she hopes to accomplish at the firm. Managing Partner and CEO Steve Zubiago and Providence partner and Chief Talent Officer Stacie Collier are also quoted from NP’s press release.
Education
Concordia University Chicago, M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Roosevelt University, MA-ABT, Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Purdue University, B.A., Psychology
Professional activities
- Institute for Well-being in Law
- American Counseling Association
- Illinois Counseling Association