www.negociosnow.com
February 2018 35
Age: 38
Title: Director, Business
Development
Name of Organization: Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Bio: Maricela Sanchez is a
first-generation Mexican-Ameri-
can, born and raised in Chicago's
Bridgeport neighborhood. Her
professional work aligns with
her personal belief that con-
sumers should have access to
affordable health coverage and
services.
She is the Director of Retail
Partnerships at Health Care
Service Corporation, the largest
customer-owned health insu-
rance company in the United
States. In her role, Sanchez ne-
gotiates collaborative relations-
hips with name-brand retailers
and health product companies.
She is tasked with designing
and implementing innovative
and cost-effective health and
wellness programs in one of the
company's operating divisions,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Illinois, Montana, New Mexico,
Oklahoma and Texas.
Outside of work, Sanchez en-
joys her many other roles. She
is an amateur marathon runner
and triathlete, an international
traveler and a wanna-be chef
with a flair for hosting parties.
She enjoys spending time with
her husband and multi-genera-
tional family and loves listening
and singing along to Pink Floyd,
Vicente Fernández and Carl Cox.
Another great passion of hers is
helping people achieve personal
and career goals and transla-
ting from English to Spanish for
strangers.
Sanchez is pursuing a Mas-
ter of Business Administration
at DePaul University with a
concentration in strategy and
valuation, a complement to her
bachelor's degree in accounting.
Maricela Sanchez
Working
to provide
affordable
health care
"A
s a first generation Latina, I did not have
many of the advantages, networks, or
general support as many of my peers earlier
on in my career. It is throughout this journey
that I have developed a passion in helping those
around me to succeed in achieving their goals.
I believe we all have an obligation to support,
inspire and pave the way for future generations.
We can't let them leave them behind."
Maricela Sanchez
