Mikayla Rose Jakubecy-Gibson

I attribute my success to resilience shaped by responsibility, advocacy, and love.

My parents had me young, and much of my childhood required independence earlier than most. I grew up navigating medical issues that were often dismissed or misunderstood, which forced me to learn how to advocate for myself long before I felt ready. Being unheard teaches you something powerful: if you want stability, clarity, or justice, you have to fight for it. That lesson never left me.

My grandfathers played an enormous role in shaping my character. They modeled steadiness, integrity, and quiet strength. From them, I learned that resilience does not have to be loud, it just has to be consistent. Even after losing them, and later losing my mother, I chose to continue forward. Grief has been part of my story, but it has never been the end of it.

I also attribute my success to the small, grounding responsibilities in my life: including caring for my dogs, who depend on me daily. Responsibility creates structure. Structure creates discipline. Discipline creates progress.

Even when pushed back, overlooked, or knocked down, I have continued. Not because circumstances were easy, but because stopping was never an option. My success is not rooted in perfection, it is rooted in persistence.

The best career advice I’ve received is: “Never step on someone on your way up — you may meet them again on your way back down.”

That advice taught me that reputation is currency. Careers are long, industries are smaller than they seem, and relationships matter far more than temporary wins. Ambition without integrity is short-lived. The way you treat people, especially when you don’t “need” them, defines your credibility more than titles ever will.

In advocacy and policy work, I’ve seen firsthand how interconnected professional circles are. Today’s colleague may be tomorrow’s decision-maker, partner, or collaborator. Success built on respect and professionalism is sustainable. Success built on ego is fragile.

That advice grounded me early: move with ambition, but never at the expense of character. Protect your reputation. Protect relationships. And build a career you can stand behind at every level.

Do not shrink yourself to make other people comfortable.

Policy, government relations, and advocacy spaces can still be male-dominated, and young women are often socialized to be agreeable, accommodating, or overly apologetic. Be professional. Be prepared. But do not confuse softness with competence. Your clarity, your analysis, and your voice belong in the room.

Second, know your material cold. Preparation is power. When you understand the legislation, the stakeholders, and the strategy better than anyone else at the table, confidence follows naturally. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room: you just have to be the most informed.

Third, build relationships with integrity. This industry runs on credibility and trust. Protect your reputation. Follow through. Treat everyone with respect, from interns to executives. You will cross paths again.

And finally, advocate for yourself the way you advocate for others. Ask for opportunities. Ask for clarity. Ask for compensation that reflects your value. No one benefits when capable women undercut themselves.

You are allowed to take up space. Take it strategically.

Integrity is non-negotiable for me. In policy and advocacy, credibility is everything. I value being someone whose word means something: who prepares thoroughly, follows through, and can stand behind the positions I support. The same applies in my personal life. Trust is built in small, consistent actions.

Resilience is another core value. I have learned that strength is not about avoiding hardship; it is about continuing forward with clarity and discipline despite it. Loss, setbacks, and moments of being unheard have shaped me, but they have not defined my limits. I value persistence over perfection.

I also value responsibility. Whether it is supporting my family, caring for my dogs, leading committees, or pursuing law school while working, I believe in honoring commitments. Showing up matters.

Finally, I value respect, for people, for differing perspectives, and for the process. You can be ambitious without compromising your character. In both my work and personal life, I aim to move with conviction, but never at the expense of integrity or dignity.