Leading with Openness: Maggie Ruvoldt on the Human Side of Leadership

In this episode of Becoming Better with StartupExperts, Jesse Freese sits down with Maggie Ruvoldt, Chief Human Resources Officer at LEARN Behavioral and one of StartupExperts’ 25 Leaders to Follow in 2025. With over 30 years of experience in HR, Maggie shares her journey from aspiring social worker to becoming a seasoned people leader who believes that HR sits at the heart of every great business. She opens up about the power of feedback, the importance of courage in difficult moments, and the subtle ways our language shapes how we lead. Together, Jesse and Maggie explore what it means to stay truly open to learning — even when we think we already are — and how to navigate the evolving intersection between human leadership and AI. Maggie also reflects on the art of building genuine relationships, offering timeless advice: “Treat your network like a bank account — make deposits when you don’t need it.” It’s a thoughtful, grounded conversation about growth, humility, and the strength that comes from leading with empathy and intention.