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Maribel Cruz ’87 brings out the best in others as director of leadership consulting at Talent Plus, Inc. Through extensive writing and mentoring Cruz remains dedicated to her work. Her time at Allegheny was pivotal in shaping these strengths.

“At Allegheny, I could pose questions and pursue independent research, which truly gave me a leg up in graduate school,” says Cruz. “Allegheny’s students are on par with the best of the Ivy League; we are far better prepared than we realize and a lot scrappier too!”

During her time at Allegheny, Cruz pursued a double major in psychology and English in addition to minoring in art history. Cruz says her majors were important in preparing her for the consulting field. While at Allegheny, Cruz was a member of the dance group Orchesis, which she described as giving her an advantage in front of a crowd.

After graduating from Allegheny, Cruz attended the University of Michigan. After receiving her doctorate in personality psychology, Cruz joined the Gallup Organization for over a decade.

In her current role at Talent Plus Inc., she works with company leaders to shape their culture by focusing on their most valuable traits. Cruz also mentors associates to further their professional development and creates a curriculum for internal learners.

Beyond consulting, Cruz is on multiple nonprofit boards and civic committees. She describes the process of having to quickly analyze information and vote on public policies. Cruz says this was helped by her minor in art history where critical thinking was emphasized.

For students interested in the field of consulting, Cruz advises students to “pursue graduate studies; it is almost impossible to attain credibility and mastery in the consulting world without a solid appreciation of theory and practice. I would also encourage exploration of different sub-fields so students can align their inherent dispositions with work that meets their purpose.”