From Student Affairs to Soul Work: Annalyn Cruz on Leadership, Risk, and Rewriting the Script

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 Introduction03:09 Interview Begins05:05 Early Career and College Experience08:17 Discovering a Career in Higher Education18:17 Graduate School Experience20:26 First Job in Higher Education22:46 Challenges and Growth at San Jose State26:55 Exploring New Paths: Recruiting, Bartending, and Makeup Artistry33:25 Returning to Higher Education at UC Berkeley38:46 Career Progression and New Challenges39:14 Inherited Team Dynamics and Struggles41:20 Emotional Vulnerability and Team Shift47:10 Transition to Semester at Sea48:28 Pivot to Learning and Development50:32 Taking a Step Back for Future Growth58:59 Corporate Experience at EA01:03:22 Starting a Business and Balancing Roles01:10:59 Coaching Focus and Final Advice