To create a platform that makes gratitude easy, personal, and memorable

Kathy Lam is the Re-Founder and Creative Director of Thankly – a Melbourne-based online gratitude gifting business reshaping how we say “thank you” in a world that’s often too busy to pause.

After over a decade in management consulting and change leadership across Microsoft, Accenture and Deloitte, Kathy felt a growing pull to build something more human and meaningful – something that put heart and connection back at the centre. What began as a quiet passion project during her 2023 career break quickly evolved into re-building a small business with a big purpose: to reinvent how we show appreciation in our everyday lives and relationships. 

Her mission? To create a platform that makes gratitude easy, personal, and memorable – where saying thank you is no longer saved for the “perfect moment,” but becomes part of how we show up for one another, one written card or thoughtful gift at a time.

Today, Thankly has delivered over 14,000 smiles across Australia. Whether it’s for a best friend who always shows up, a teacher who goes the extra mile, or a client who backed your local business – Thankly helps make appreciation a lasting connection, not just a fleeting gesture.

This new chapter is in honour of Kathy’s late mother, Ana, whose legacy continues to inspire her to make the most of each day. It’s that same spirit that fuels her work – helping others pause, reflect, and feel more connected, through every ‘Thankly’.

Kathy is also a passionate advocate for women in business and mental health, and a self-confessed matcha addict.

When she’s not at Thankly HQ, you’ll find her sketching on her iPad, spending time with her husband Alex and their fluffy fur-child, Mochi – or trying to pat every dog she walks past.

We are so excited to have her as one of our panellists at the Melbourne Female Founder Festival.