Martha Deeds

Meet Martha

Martha Deeds is a Senior Principal, working directly with senior executives to develop and execute strategy, improve internal communications, and develop their next generation of leaders. Martha's work at McChrystal Group has primarily been focused in the healthcare and biotech sectors, advising clients on their most complex and ambiguous challenges, quickly analyzing and discerning pain points and barriers, aligning solutions to overarching strategy, engaging stakeholders, optimizing processes, and leading projects to completion.

What did you do before joining McChrystal Group?

Prior to joining McChrystal Group, I was the Senior Manager of Policy at the School and State Finance Project. In this role, I led research and policy development, including that of the Special Education Predictable Cost Cooperative, an initiative to form a public captive insurance company to manage $2.2Bn of risk in special education costs. Previously, I was the Manager of Special Projects at Capitol Region Education Council, where I oversaw a variety of high priority projects for the CEO. I served as Special Assistant to the Commissioner at the Connecticut State Department of Education, where I ensured alignment between Commissioner, CXOs, and the Department’s strategic plan by acting as chief of staff.

Prior to my work in the public sector, I facilitated a $1.9 million multi-agency, federal grant to implement the Pathways to Independence program for chronically homeless adults at Columbus House, Inc. and supervised residential programs for adolescents who have experienced significant trauma at the North American Family Institute.

Why did you join McChrystal Group?

I chose McChrystal Group because, at its heart, it is a mission-driven company that is aligned with my values. I knew that as a consultant implementing our Team of Teams approach, I would be doing work that makes organizations better places to work, from line staff all the way to the C-suite. I also was drawn to McChrystal Group because of our world-class leadership, who value the intersection of business and society.

What has been your proudest moment at McChrystal Group?

Some of the proudest work I have ever done was managing a midwestern state's COVID-19 pandemic response. When the virus took hold in the U.S., McChrystal Group leaned in and offered support where we could have the most impact, bringing military and public sector expertise, to ensure that state government had the best tools to operate with speed and agility under unprecedented conditions, and I am convinced that lives were saved through the partnership.

What are your favorite books (beside Team of Teams!)?

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson is a favorite. A recent read that I enjoyed was Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore. I also like silly fantasy novels like Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive.