Today I interview Annalyn Cruz, a dream life and embodiment coach and the CEO of Grounded in Wisdom, LLC.

We discuss Annalyn’s career journey from higher education in student affairs to learning and development in the corporate world, and back to higher education. With each transition, we revisit her commitment to empowering others, and the role of strong personal relationships in building trust and self-confidence.

00:00 Introduction
03:09 Interview Begins
05:05 Early Career and College Experience
08:17 Discovering a Career in Higher Education
18:17 Graduate School Experience
20:26 First Job in Higher Education
22:46 Challenges and Growth at San Jose State
26:55 Exploring New Paths: Recruiting, Bartending, and Makeup Artistry
33:25 Returning to Higher Education at UC Berkeley
38:46 Career Progression and New Challenges
39:14 Inherited Team Dynamics and Struggles
41:20 Emotional Vulnerability and Team Shift
47:10 Transition to Semester at Sea
48:28 Pivot to Learning and Development
50:32 Taking a Step Back for Future Growth
58:59 Corporate Experience at EA
01:03:22 Starting a Business and Balancing Roles
01:10:59 Coaching Focus and Final Advice