GET TO KNOW ME
Hello! I'm Brandy DeOrnellas. I am a Bay Area native and live in the East Bay with my husband, son, and pup.
I studied at UC Berkeley, Harvard Law, and UC Davis. I practiced law for several years before transitioning to coaching. My transition from law to coaching led to a deep interest in life design and transitions.
A lifetime of experiences led me here. I worked as an advocate for seniors in long-term care, but wanted to do more to promote their joy and reduce suffering. I transitioned to public policy, but realized I am motivated by face-to-face engagement, not macro-level reform. In my law practice, the most fulfilling moments were when I offered encouragement and compassion, not legal advice. Each of these experiences revealed my design and led me to coaching.
MY TRAINING
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
JURIS DOCTOR
EQUAL JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT
HARVARD PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT
BORCHARD FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT
MS. JD FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT
MEDIATION
CERTIFICATIONS
UC BERKELEY
BACHELOR OF ARTS, SOCIAL WELFARE
DEPARTMENT HIGHEST HONORS
BACHELOR OF ARTS, POLITICAL SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT HIGHEST HONORS
UNIVERSITY HIGHEST HONORS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL COACH FOR LIFE AND WORK
INTERNATIONAL COACH FEDERATION
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED COACH (PCC)
PREPARE/ ENRICH
CERTIFIED RELATIONSHIP COACH
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS
CONFLICT COACHING CERTIFICATIONS
HARVARD MEDIATION PROGRAM
MEDIATION CERTIFICATION
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
MEDIATION COURSE
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
MEDIATION CLINIC
BERKELEY LAW
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PRACTICE
ABOUT YOUR COACH
MY COACHING PHILOSOPHY
My philosophy? Let's get clear about what's essential to you and then design your life accordingly. Here's a quote from a favorite book - Essentialism by Greg McKeown - that sums things up nicely:
"The way of the Essentialist means living by design, not by default. Instead of making choices reactively, the Essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many, eliminates the nonessentials, and then removes obstacles so the essential things have clear, smooth passage."
FROM LAWYER TO COACH
It started with some introspection - what matters to me? I wanted to tap my potential. I wanted to help people. And I couldn't do that disengaged and depleted.
I noticed the "bright spots" in my work were the moments when I was coaching others. I felt like I was making a difference; I felt alive.
People would ask: "Won't you be giving up too much if you stop practicing law?" But I knew all I was giving up by staying. So I took the leap - and it was worth it.
MY FAMILY
I live in the East Bay in California with my sweet family.
My husband, Jason, works in education. Our son, Avery, is a happy, busy toddler who keeps us enthralled most days (and exhausted on others!)
We also have a pup, Poppy - if your a dog lover, you can spot her in my Instagram!
