Mary-Joy Coburn is the Director of Communications at the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS), a public pension fund that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to employees of Orange County and participating agencies. In January 2025, she was honored with the Public Pension Communicator of the Year – Rising Star award by the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS). Before joining OCERS, Mary-Joy served as the Director of Communications at the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District from 2019 to 2023 and as a Public Information Officer at the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District from 2014 to 2019.

Authenticity in leadership is more than just a buzzword — it’s a crucial ingredient in building trust, especially in public sector communications. In a world where transparency is expected, how can leaders foster meaningful connections with stakeholders while managing crisis situations effectively?

According to Mary-Joy Coburn, a seasoned communications executive and crisis management expert, authenticity starts with humility and transparency. She highlights the importance of admitting when you don’t have all the answers while ensuring stakeholders feel heard and informed. By leading with honesty and adaptability, she has been able to navigate complex public communications, including crisis response and stakeholder engagement. Mary-Joy‘s approach emphasizes strategic storytelling, proactive crisis planning, and fostering collaboration among public information officers to build stronger, more resilient communication networks.

In this episode of RAW Spotlight, host Emily Au sits down with Mary-Joy Coburn, Director of Communications at the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS), to discuss how authenticity drives impactful communication in the public sector. They explore the critical role of trust in stakeholder engagement, the balance between transparency and crisis management, and the leadership strategies that elevate government communications.