AI with a Human Compass, A Hispanic Journey in Leadership: Meet Cory Ruthardt, CEO of Simpatico Systems
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, GlobalMindED is honored to feature Cory Ruthardt, President of Simpatico Systems, whose journey from a small agricultural town in West Texas to leading a fast-growing AI and automation company is rooted in heritage, service, and people-first leadership. Grounded in the values of hard work, family, and community instilled by his grandfather, he has dedicated his career to solving tough problems with curiosity, respect, and inclusion. Under his leadership, Simpatico has grown more than 16x, proving that diverse teams and disciplined execution drive both innovation and opportunity.
Tell us about your personal journey. (This encompasses both personal and professional aspects)
I grew up in Muleshoe, a small agriculture town on the South Plains of West Texas. My childhood was a blend of cultures—my father’s European roots and my mother’s Hispanic heritage—but the rhythm of my days was undeniably Hispanic: the food, the music, and the unshakeable pull of family. That heritage grounds me. It shaped my work ethic, my moral compass, and my belief that leadership begins with service.
Today I serve as President of Simpatico Systems, a Managed Intelligence Provider. I’ve spent twelve years here, rising through the ranks not because I had every answer, but because I kept showing up to the hardest problems with curiosity and respect for the people doing the work. One of the defining moments on that path was a lunch with our board chair. Over that conversation, I articulated a vision for what Simpatico could become—how we could harness automation and AI to deliver outsized outcomes for our customers. That wasn’t a pitch; it was a promise. Now I get to live it out by leading teams that translate that vision into results.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
My earliest leadership model wasn’t from a textbook. It was my grandfather, Albert Garcia. He began as a farm hand, became a partner on several parcels, and built businesses by lifting others as he climbed. He showed me that sacrifice for family, community, and faith does not diminish strength—it defines it. His example formed the spine of my leadership: work hard, keep your word, and measure success by the people who grow because you did.
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned through your work?
Over time, a few lessons became non‑negotiable for me:
- See the person before the role. Old management theory says to keep distance. I’ve found the opposite: the teams that stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder in tough moments are the ones built on genuine relationships. Caring doesn’t make hard calls easier—but it does make outcomes better and cultures stronger.
- Do the little things well. Early in your career, excellence in the “small” tasks compounds. When you make the details automatic—showing up prepared, following through, communicating clearly—the big things become possible.
-
Act with urgency, learn with humility. I keep General Patton’s line close: “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” Starting is the hardest step. Start, learn, iterate.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
At Simpatico, our purpose is clear: help customers understand and apply automation and AI to get ahead of their industries. AI doesn’t have to be scary; it can be a force for growth, scale, and better‑paying jobs. Since I joined, our business has grown more than 16x. I’m proud of that number—not as a scoreboard, but as evidence that disciplined execution and people‑first leadership create value for customers, employees, and communities. When we get this right, companies become more resilient, teams find more meaningful work, and opportunities multiply.
What are your highest hopes for democracy to unite and uplift and inspire?
My highest hopes for a united, inclusive democracy are practical: wider participation and deeper belonging. In business, I’ve learned that a room full of people with the same background and thinking style is easier to manage but slower to solve problems. Diverse perspectives accelerate solutions—especially for complex, cross‑functional challenges. That’s why we intentionally build teams with different experiences and viewpoints. We win faster because we see around corners together.
Our work contributes to that vision by proving, every day, that inclusion is a performance advantage. We put diverse, talented people in positions to think big and move quickly. We use data to learn, not to punish. And we narrate the why, not just the what, so people can make aligned decisions even when no one is watching.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and advancing your aspirations?
GlobalMindED’s mission resonates deeply with me because it turns stories into pathways. Here’s how organizations like GlobalMindED can help leaders like me amplify impact:
1) Connect talent to opportunity. Create internship and apprenticeship bridges—especially for first‑generation students—into high‑impact, AI‑enabled roles.
2) Scale practical AI literacy. Convene short, skills‑forward programs for educators and employers so more people can use AI safely and productively.
3) Spotlight replicable models. Elevate case studies where inclusive teams demonstrably improved outcomes—so others can adopt what works.
I didn’t set out to be a president. I set out to keep faith with the people who invested in me—my family, my mentors, my teams—and to build a company worthy of their trust. Leadership isn’t a spotlight; it’s a responsibility. If my story encourages even one student to take that first, imperfect step—or one leader to build a more inclusive team that solves problems faster—then I’m doing right by the communities that raised me.
Contact Cory Ruthardt:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-ruthardt/ | Organization: https://www.simpatico.com
| 
