ABOUT LaCosta:
Jessi LaCosta is a Leadership and Resilience Coach, Consultant, Trainer and Professional Speaker. Known as a “Pathfinder” LaCosta inspires others with her innovative approaches to overcoming adversity, leading with confidence, and making a positive impact. Believing that strategy and compassion are not isolated in successful pathfinding, she works with clients to move their visions into reality using a unique blend of evidence-based and intuitive approaches.
Her background includes 20+ years working across public, private and non-profit sectors in strategic communications, program development, individual transformation, strategic planning and organizational effectiveness. LaCosta has designed and delivered virtual and onsite solutions to professionals from the front line to upper leadership and has an excess of 3000 hours of coaching to individuals and teams including Director and SES level in the Federal Government. She is approved to administer many feedback and 360 assessment tools. Her education in Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), has equipped LaCosta with a deepened insight into managing crisis and conflict along with developing people to their fullest potential.
LaCosta was one of the first in the United States to use IPNB along with brand development, conflict management, and coaching to develop programs, build businesses, and improve upon leadership processes. LaCosta holds many certifications and designations including the ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and as an inaugural CCE Board Certified Coach (BCC), Certified Crisis Management & Communication Professional, and Certified Modern Classroom Trainer. More on her training and qualifications can be found at the bottom of this page.
And EVERY year, LaCosta accepts two pro-bono consulting or coaching clients as well as two on a sliding scale basis. While most of her clients will come from purpose-driven, mission-focused mid-large size organizations and agencies, she also works with underserved leaders and communities.
Awards & Experience
LaCosta sat on the Board of Directors (in various positions) for GAINS (Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies) for seven years, was the VP of Marketing and Membership for the San Diego Organizational Development Network for three years. Before that she was a member of the University of Baltiore’s Alumni Board of Directors.
In 2013 she was chosen by San Diego Metro Magazine as one of 20 Women Who Impact San Diego. LaCosta received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition “In recognition of your dedication to support our veterans and their families.” She is also the recipient of both the H. Mebane Turner Service and the Thomas J. Pullen Outstanding Young Alumna Awards from the University of Baltimore.
LaCosta now resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has been featured in local, regional and national media.
Education & Training
- Certified Crisis Management & Communication Professional (CMCP): ICOR-The International Consortium for Organizational Resilience
- CCE-Board Certified Coach: Career, Leadership and Resilience Coaching
- ICF ACC (Associate Certified Coach)
- Interpersonal Neurobiology Certificate of Completion: Portland State University
- Certified Resilience Coach: Driven
- Trained to offer resilience training and coaching to First Responders: Driven
- Conflict Resolution Certificate of Completion: Conflict Resolution Network
- Certified Transition Writing Specialist: Writing Through Transitions®
- Certified Modern Classroom Trainer: Logical Operations
- Art of Convening Certificate: Center for Purposeful Leadership
- Certified Mediator: California: North County Lifeline
- MA., Communications Design: University of Baltimore
- BS., Corporate Media: James Madison University
On a personal note, she is a survivor of a carjacking at gunpoint and several other personal challenges that she feels has built resiliency in her. Through relational neuroscience, she has experienced first-hand the human capacity to heal and grow. She is trained in trauma recovery, as well as leadership development, resilience training, conflict management and more. LaCosta is an advocate for fair, systemic change when it is needed. She often seeks to meet at the nexus of opposing ideas to bring mutual understanding and growth among people of different ideologies and approaches — when there is potential for sustainable, positive impact.