At The Salon Professional Academy Maplewood, we believe a great education starts with people who genuinely care about helping others succeed. That’s exactly the passion Holly Persgard, our Director of Education, brings to our academy every day.

Holly joined the TSPA Maplewood team less than a year ago, bringing her love for the beauty industry, passion for education, and commitment to creating a positive experience for both students and staff.

Her philosophy is simple: “I want you to win.”

A Passion for People and the Beauty Industry

For Holly, the beauty industry has always been about more than hair. It’s about helping people feel confident, express themselves, and know they are being heard.

She loves making people smile and being part of the journey that helps them feel their best.

Throughout her career, one of Holly’s proudest accomplishments has been building meaningful relationships with her clients—relationships that have grown into something much more than simply providing a service.

That same passion for connecting with people is something she now brings to her leadership role at TSPA Maplewood.

Making an Impact at TSPA Maplewood

One of the things that attracted Holly to TSPA Maplewood was the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a smaller school environment.

As Director of Education, Holly enjoys being part of creating a great experience for both students and staff. Whether she’s supporting an educator, helping a student work through a challenge, or finding ways to make the academy even better, her goal is to make a positive impact.

And while her role includes many responsibilities, one of her favorite parts is still getting to know the students.

She especially loves those “light bulb moments” when everything starts to click and students begin to understand something they’ve been working hard to learn.

Watching that growth and confidence develop is one of the most rewarding parts of education.

Believe in Yourself and Keep Growing

If there’s one lesson Holly hopes every student takes with them after graduating from TSPA, it’s this:

“Believe in yourself, set high goals for yourself, and always be eager to learn more.”

It’s advice that applies not only to students beginning their beauty careers but also to professionals who have been in the industry for years.

Holly believes in continuing to grow, challenge yourself, and look for opportunities to become even better at what you do.

She’s applying that same mindset to her own role as she continues learning, growing, and finding ways to support the students and team at TSPA Maplewood.

Her advice for someone considering beauty school?

It’s fun, it’s fast-paced, and there’s a huge reward waiting at the end!

Her Favorites Behind the Chair

Even in her leadership role, Holly still has her favorite parts of the beauty industry!

When it comes to services, foiling is at the top of her list.

And her favorite Redken product? Shades EQ!

Holly describes it as the perfect finishing touch—the bow on top of a beautiful service.

If she could instantly master another specialty, she’d love to learn more about hair toppers, adding another skill to her beauty industry knowledge.

Get to Know Holly Outside the Academy

When Holly isn’t busy at TSPA, life is full of family, adventures, and a little well-deserved downtime.

Holly lives in White Bear Lake with Justin and their two children, Wyatt and Nora. The twins are seven years old and in second grade, keeping their family busy, on their toes, and full of joy!

She loves a good book and is always up for an adventure—especially one without a set plan.

Her ideal day off could go one of two ways: cheering on her kids at their activities or enjoying a quiet house with a good book and a cup of coffee.

And here’s a fun fact you might not expect: Holly is surprisingly good at bowling and darts!

A Leader Who Wants You to Succeed

When asked what three words her students might use to describe her, Holly chose:

Caring. Supportive. Positive.

Those qualities reflect the kind of environment she hopes to help create at TSPA Maplewood—one where students feel encouraged, educators feel supported, and everyone has the opportunity to grow.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore a career in beauty or you’re already working toward graduation, Holly wants you to know that she believes in your potential.

And if there’s one message she wants every student to hear, it’s worth repeating:

“I want you to win.”

We’re excited to have Holly as part of our TSPA Maplewood leadership team and look forward to all the ways she’ll continue helping our students, educators, and academy grow! ❤️

Ready to Start Your Beauty Career?

At The Salon Professional Academy Maplewood, our team is passionate about helping future beauty and wellness professionals discover their potential.

Schedule a tour, meet our team, and see what your future in the beauty industry could look like!