To say that Nancy McKay is busy would be an understatement but this dynamic entrepreneur likes it that way. She finds balance by dividing her time between work, community involvement and personal enjoyment and loves the flexibility and less structured atmosphere of being a business owner working from her home. Nancy McKay is outcome driven, which is a natural fit for a management consultant who is a physiotherapist by profession and used to getting results.

 With deep family roots in Bathurst, Nancy pursued her physiotherapy degree from Dalhousie University in 1975 and her Masters of Science in Administration in 1996. She began her career in the public sector providing physiotherapy services to patients of all ages in   hospitals and in the community. She noticed that the patient needs were greater than the system could meet and so was attracted to projects that could change the health system. While working full-time, she began getting involved in projects with governments and health organizations, some in the private sector. After working in the public sector for 15 years and dividing her time between the two for three years, Nancy decided to open her own home-based consulting business.

 Nancy believes being in business is not about the money but about the level of flexibility and control you can have. Such diversity also fits with her lifestyle and personality. This vibrant business owner loves working and taking on challenges. She had every intention of taking a full maternity leave when she had her first child, but after two months, Nancy was back to work. She loves the new opportunities, working with new groups and working on a project until completion, and then comes a new challenge.

 Nancy is the owner of Management Dimensions, a management consulting business which focuses primarily on the health sector. The areas of expertise are strategic planning and facilitation; research and policy development and service improvement. For example, she describes a current project with the College of Physiotherapists in New Brunswick where she is examining regulation issues. She can draw on experience from her previous work as a physiotherapist and from her expertise in business.  Or the upcoming visit to Geneva and Brazil working with non-profit international health organizations! She gets satisfaction from her early efforts with the Nurses Association of New Brunswick to promote the introduction of nurse practitioners.   
 
 Another key facet of Management Dimensions is research and group facilitation. The company examines options for change and works with groups in order to reach a decision on the best way forward. Nancy will take on projects if she has the core skills, and will bring in other professionals if she requires additional expertise. Furthermore, Management Dimensions also focuses on organizational effectiveness. By working with many national health professional organizations and the International Council of Nurses in Geneva, she helped them with their governance, their board operations and their structure.

 Nancy finds the flexibility and diversity the most rewarding aspect of being a business owner. She is continuously learning and loves to make a unique contribution. As for her biggest challenge, it is deciding whether or not to expand her business.
Nancy pursues some form of professional development every year because she adores learning new skills. Being a business owner also lets her work with the community, as she says, “My parents modelled volunteering as did my grand-father; they always volunteered and we all were encouraged to get involved and contribute to different causes.”

 Nancy’s contributions are too numerous to name but here are some highlights:

 She served as president of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, and then went on to the World Association Executive. She was also the vice-chair of the 2003 Canada Games in Bathurst, where her husband also was the VP of Sport. She sits on the boards of Enterprise Chaleur, The Port of Belledune, the Provincial Stan Cassidy Centre Foundation for Rehabilitation and the N.B. Sports Hall of Fame. According to Nancy, “I have always been involved and a busy person, yet whatever I take on, I try my best to do. Also, volunteering is a great way to learn new things and meet new people.”

 Management Dimensions works to engage people in their own solutions and that really sets them apart from their competitors. Also, Nancy is an expert relationship builder. Her personal success is “about liking what I do and making lasting relationships…this also gains repeat clients.”

 If she could give advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, she would say, “Reflect who you are and why you are in business. Be sure that you do what needs to be done and that you are also getting something out of it. And do not be afraid to ask if you need help and of course, get involved in the community!”