“Empathy, strategy, and innovation aren’t just ideas—they’re the tools that shape transformative leadership.”
Maggie Ruddy is an innovative leader known for her ability to tackle complex challenges, craft compelling narratives and create simple, actionable steps that inspire behavior change. With over 15 years of experience in product development, organizational consulting, and communication strategy, Maggie has a proven track record of translating intricate problems into actionable, outcome-focused strategies that drive meaningful results.
As Director of Product at the NeuroLeadership Institute (NLI), Maggie creates standard learning solutions focused on addressing challenges like employee engagement, performance management, and leadership development. She collaborates with research to develop simple, actionable habits that foster insight and drive behavior change. Her talent for storytelling ensures that her solutions resonate with learners and inspire meaningful, organization-wide change.
Maggie began her career at the intersection of sales and strategy, where she honed her skills in client engagement at Echo Global Logistics and CEB (now Gartner). Her experience working closely with senior leaders across various industries has cultivated her deep understanding of customer behavior, change management, and organizational dynamics. She gained further recognition at Gartner, where she conducted large-scale presentations and developed strategic roadmaps guiding significant initiatives for Fortune 500 companies.
Her expertise lies in leading cross-functional teams across global markets, including Australia and England, while fostering inclusive cultures grounded in collaboration and mutual accountability. Under her leadership, her teams have launched over 75 learning solutions that address critical human capital challenges including driving performance, engagement, retention and resilience at scale.
Maggie is particularly skilled in motivating employees through effective communication strategies and establishing clarity and shared goals. She is passionate about projects focused on solving complex challenges and driving impactful behavior change through storytelling that aligns with organizational values.
Maggie believes in using technology to serve people—not the other way around. Whether building scalable platforms, coaching leaders, or crafting strategic product roadmaps, she consistently centers the human experience. She is guided by a personal belief that transformation happens when strategy and empathy intersect—a belief that continues to shape every product, team, and idea she touches. Her leadership style reflects this ethos: thoughtful, inclusive, data-informed, and always anchored in a deep respect for the people behind the process.
This includes her most recent work at NLI, Maggie contributed to the concept and launch of an AI assistant, NILES—the Neuro Intelligent Leadership Enhancing System—emphasizing the importance of real-time support in leadership development. Her work has led to measurable improvements, including a 30% increase in average deal size and stronger customer retention metrics.
Dedicated to making a difference beyond her professional life, Maggie actively participates in community service and wellness advocacy. Her board experience with organizations like Harmony Hope and Healing and the American Heart Association reflects her commitment to fostering holistic well-being and growth in individuals.
As she seeks new advisory opportunities, Maggie offers a unique combination of strategic insight, operational expertise, and a deep understanding of what drives employee performance and motivation. She is particularly excited about opportunities in culture transformation, organizational development, leadership development and engagement strategies, and is open to organizations of all sizes. Her track record of developing forward-thinking, neuroscience-informed learning solutions makes her an invaluable advisor for organizations seeking to drive sustainable growth, empower their workforce, integrate emerging technology or other large scale internal changes that require new skills or habit adoption.
Character:
Maggie leads with authenticity and purpose, always grounded in a strong moral compass and a desire to improve the lives of others. Her integrity shines through in both her team leadership and her product strategy, ensuring alignment between values and execution.
Knowledge:
She brings 15 years of cross-industry experience and a deep expertise in neuroscience-informed leadership development, product management, and stakeholder strategy. Her work at NLI, Gartner, and beyond reflects a rare ability to translate complex research into real-world applications.
Strategic:
Maggie is a systems thinker who anticipates challenges and opportunities before they arise. Her strategic planning is driven by data, empathy, and foresight—resulting in solutions that are not just innovative, but also deeply impactful and scalable.
Communication:
Whether presenting to hundreds or mentoring one-on-one, Maggie communicates with clarity, conviction, and emotional intelligence. She’s a gifted storyteller and thought leader who can influence across functions and levels with ease.
