Samantha Ruiz, PHD-ABD

I earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin in 2010 and a Master's degree In Communications from The University of the Incarnate Word in 2011. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Organizational Leadership at Our Lady of the Lake University where I am currently working on my dissertation on The Emotional Intelligence of leaders in the adult beverage industry. I have been in the adult beverage industry since 2012 where I have worked in the On- Premise and Retail sales. I have found an interest in studying and teaching within the topic organizational leadership, more specifically Emotional Intelligence. After graduation, I would like to become a consultant for organizations on how to improve their leadership/management practices, helping them figure out why they have high turnover, teach them how to better manage while implementing mindfulness and self awareness to help prevent turnover, and to help bridge the gap of open communication across all levels in an organization. I would like to do this while maintaining a full time job within the adult beverage industry. I love the industry I work in and would like to continue to grow and learn in it while being able to teach real world experiences to others and help them develop into better leaders with higher emotional intelligence.