50 Leading Women: Jessica Baca

In honor and celebration of our Women’s Division‘s 50th Anniversary, we will be spotlighting 50 Leading Women making an impact, raising their voice, and leading the next generation of women in the workforce and Plano community.

Introducing, Jessica Baca, Senior Victim Advocate for the City of Plano, Plano Police Department. Jessica has served as a Victim Advocate for over 10 years, relentlessly working towards the Plano’s Police Department’s Victim Services Program’s goal “to reduce the short and long-term effects relating to the traumatic experience of victimization.” Throughout her career, Jessica has received the Chief’s Unit Award (3 times), Excellence in Victim Advocacy, Lifesaving Award, Civic Achievement Award, and the Meritorious Service Award for her work on a 3-part mental health series, viewed by thousands, on Plano Police Department’s social media platforms. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Victim Services Association and serves as a thought leader in her field. When she is not working, you can find Jessica traveling & making memories with her husband and two sons.

1. Describe your leadership style and how you lead others.

I like to be engaging and empathic towards those that I work with. I can also be direct and delegate tasks as needed to get the job done. My leadership style will pivot to what is needed of me at the moment to get the outcome that is needed or wanted by the organization. My leadership skills are always evolving as I continue to learn and gain wisdom.

2. How can women develop their leadership skills in the workforce?

If they are offered professional development opportunities within their companies take advantage of that to grow professionally and individually. If that is not possible, try to get involved in organizations such as women leading government that offer webinars and networking opportunities. I have sought out professional development opportunities outside my organization not only to gain more knowledge but to network.

3. What are the most important decisions you make as a leader?

Although I am not the supervisor of the Victim Services Unit, there are many decisions I make to try to ensure the success of the unit. I look for ways to network with other entities that can help bridge the gaps in services, help educate individuals on victim services, and find innovative ways to best serve crime victims. I also manage the Rape Aggression Defense program and the general internship program for the police department. I try to recruit individuals that will contribute to the teams in a positive manner, so that the goals of the programs can be met and the programs succeed.

 4. What has been one of your biggest joys as a leader?

I have been in the victim advocacy field for over ten years now, and I enjoy mentoring others who are new to the field and helping them succeed in their respective agencies.  I also have been able to make a positive impact to victims of crime by implementing procedural and policy changes that will benefit victims of crime for years to come within the police department.

5. What has been your greatest career disappointment? What did you learn from it?

When I first started with the police department, there were things I believed that needed to change to better serve victims of crime.  I tried implementing change within an organization before I understood the culture.  This created animosity with key players and formed barriers that perhaps could have been prevented had I understood things better.  In order to resolve the issues that had arisen, I had to own my part in the problem.  It took time to mend the broken relationships because of the mistakes made in the beginning.  Although, this was a difficult time in my career, I learned how to handle delicate situations and to repair relationships when it seemed impossible.  I carry these lessons with me and share my wisdom when asked.

6. What strategies could be used to promote inclusion in the workplace?

There are many strategies that may be used to promote inclusion in the workplace, for example organizations can start by looking at their recruiting practices. To get a better diverse pool of candidates organizations should be more conscientious of where they are advertising their job postings. Posting jobs in a broad range of forums, including diversity or special-interest-focused job websites, helps increase the chances of reaching a variety of individuals. Another option would be to host a job fair in typically overlooked communities.  When posting job descriptions, organizations should ensure that it does not have gendered phrasing that may exclude a specific gender from applying.

7. What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

If I could speak to my younger self, I would tell her to have patience, and prioritize self-care. I still struggle with the self-care part, but each year I’m doing better.

8. What advice can you give to the next generation of female leaders?

First and foremost, believe in your capabilities and what you can bring to the table. There is going to be a lot of people that may undermine your talents or abilities, don’t let that ever get in the way of your career goals. Find mentors that have your best interest in mind and who will show your skillsets off. Get out of your comfort zone, this allows you to develop your skillset and meet people. Lastly, we all only get one life, make sure you prioritize what is important to you.

9. Who inspired you and why?

My grandparents. These individuals faced incredible hardships in their lives and somehow always managed to provide for their families and persevere. Both of my grandparents were born in Mexico and had little education, but they both wanted to build a better life for their children. My grandmother raised nine children on her own and was able to give them a better life in the United States. My grandfather became the owner of a M. Serrano Construction company that has been in business for over 30 years. I admire the strength and determination my grandparents had. They passed on those traits and grit to my parents, who I owe immense gratitude for who I am today.

10. What do you want to be remembered for? 

I value my time with my family immensely. I always make sure to find time to go visit my parents and siblings who live eight hours away from me. I make sure to be there for all of my son’s awards, field trips, or anything that he believes is important. I also would like to be remembered for making a difference within the community and helping the Spanish-speaking population.