Jessica Deakyne is the Chief Operating Officer at MRG, where she builds systems to scale leadership development across organizations. Her career trajectory from transportation coordinator to assistant city manager in just one decade exemplifies the power of intentional growth and servant leadership. Jessica has guided strategic initiatives, led citywide sustainability and equity programs, and served as president of the Municipal Management Association of Northern California. A Harvard Senior Executive Program alumna, she was named one of the North Bay Business Journal's 40 under 40 and won the West McClure Outstanding Assistant Award. In 2022, she co-created UpNext, a transformative nine-month leadership program for emerging public sector leaders that focuses on building authentic leadership presence, executive skills, and peer community.

In this conversation with Jessica Deakyne, we explore how she accelerated from transportation coordinator to Chief Operating Officer through servant leadership and intentional community building.

The Power of Community and Connection

Jessica's career transformation wasn't a solo journey. She emphasizes that successful leaders understand advancement happens through community, not isolation. Her approach involves constantly connecting people to opportunities, maintaining broad networks, and remembering that "I didn't become an ACM by myself."

The UpNext Program: Building Ladders for Others

In 2022, Jessica co-created UpNext, a nine-month leadership development program for emerging public sector leaders focusing on:

• Leadership presence and executive skills
• Having difficult conversations with confidence
• Building resilience and authentic leadership styles
• Creating community among peers facing similar challenges

The program uses blind application reviews to remove bias and includes ongoing coaching throughout the nine months.

The Critical Mindset Shift

The difference between leaders who plateau and those who accelerate? Remembering that leadership is a team sport. As Jessica explains: "The issue you're going through today isn't the first time this has happened to someone. Call your friends."

Continuous Learning

Even as COO, Jessica continues her development through UC Davis Executive Coaching certification, demonstrating that growth never stops.

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on adding value to others' success
• Build genuine relationships across your industry
• Approach experiences with curiosity
• Remember, authenticity is a leadership strength

Resources Mentioned:

• UpNext Applications
• Jessica's work: solutions-mrg.com

 To learn more about my services and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me on social channels @Claire Laughlin Consulting.