Samuel Cruz
About Samuel Cruz
Samuel Cruz serves as the Director of Learning & Development at Motional, where he has worked since 2020. He has a diverse background in operations and training, having held various roles at Lyft, Target, and the University of Nevada, Reno.
Work at Motional
Samuel Cruz currently serves as the Director of Learning & Development at Motional, a position he has held since 2020. In this role, he focuses on enhancing employee training and development initiatives. He has maintained the accreditation of the company's safety-critical vehicle operations training program and has implemented various learning modalities to adapt to the evolving business environment. His efforts have contributed to increased staff validation of core values and improved organizational health.
Previous Experience at Lyft
Prior to his role at Motional, Samuel Cruz worked at Lyft in various capacities. He served as the Manager of Global Driver Service Operations from 2019 to 2020 and as Operations Lead for Nevada from 2017 to 2019. During his tenure, he focused on improving operational efficiency and enhancing driver support services. His contributions included reducing external costs and improving manager engagement through in-house training programs.
Education and Expertise
Samuel Cruz holds two Bachelor's Degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno, in Communication and English Writing, which he completed between 2011 and 2015. He also achieved the International Baccalaureate (IB) at Green Valley High School. His educational background supports his expertise in learning and development, particularly in creating training programs that align with organizational goals.
Background in Training and Development
Samuel Cruz has a strong background in training and development, having worked in various educational and operational roles. He co-chaired recruitment and membership training at the University of Nevada, Reno, and served as a Resident Assistant. His experience includes managing vendor relationships and reducing costs associated with learning and compliance, demonstrating his capability in optimizing training resources.
Achievements in Organizational Development
Throughout his career, Samuel Cruz has achieved significant milestones in organizational development. He co-led the implementation of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives. His efforts resulted in the creation of a full-time DEIB Program Manager role and the production of 22 business-critical succession plans, which improved organizational health and reduced critical role risk.