April 29, 2025
Episode 218 – Nancy MacKay – Populating the World with Inspiring Leaders
“One of our core values is service. Service is really about jumping out of bed every morning and figuring out, how do I show up as the best version of myself so that I can serve others, that I can help other people be successful. I think that’s what leadership is all about.” – Nancy MacKay
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- Nancy MacKay is the founder and CEO of MacKay CEO Forums, an organization that provides the highest impact and least time-intensive peer support groups for CEOs, executives, and business owners across Canada and around the world. Since founding MacKay CEO Forums in 2005, Nancy has been dedicated to fostering inspiring leadership through confidential peer learning and support. Under her leadership, MacKay CEO Forums has built a community of over 1,200 members, facilitated by 60+ Forum Chairs, delivering an ROI of 708% through increased profit, employee retention, and customer satisfaction as measured by the ROI Institute Canada in 2022.
- A seasoned CEO coach, dynamic keynote speaker, former university professor and published author, Nancy’s latest book, I Don’t Have Time, co-authored with Nico Human, tackles the top time mastery mistakes CEOs make and provides actionable strategies to reclaim time and productivity. She is also the co-author of two influential books with Alan Weiss: The Modern Trusted Advisor and The Talent Advantage.
- Nancy is also actively involved in her community, serving on the boards of the Genwell Project and the Rick Hansen Foundation Campaign Cabinet, and co-chairing the Vancouver Committee for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party. She holds a B.Math and a Master’s degree in Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo, and a Ph.D. in Business from Canterbury University in New Zealand. Residing in British Columbia, Canada, Nancy enjoys playing squash and traveling the world with her family.
- From professor to CEO entrepreneur, Nancy shares the many faces of her journey – its challenges, opportunities, inspiration, and reward. Now in its 20th Anniversary year, Nancy explains the concept of MacKay CEO Forums and the peer support format available for CEOs, senior executives, and business owners. Nancy highlights the ways in which they take a stand for diversity and inclusion and their dedication to provide relevant and real-life thought leadership in a space of non-judgment. On a date night over 20 years ago, Nancy shared her compelling vision with her husband Rob and together they created an organization that is rooted in service and contribution toward populating the world with inspiring leaders. It’s lonely at the top but with the intentional community they’ve curated, CEOs, executives and business owners don’t have to go it alone.
- Show Notes
- [00:42] Patrick introduces his next TEDM guest Nancy MacKay.
- [02:01] Nancy and Patrick fire right into their conversation as Nancy shares what she’s up to in the context of business.
- [03:09] The catalyst and inspiration for Nancy to create MacKay CEO Forums that continues to go strong in its 20th Anniversary year.
- [07:14] Nancy explains the concept of MacKay CEO Forums and the peer support format available for CEOs and Senior Executives.
- [08:49] It’s lonely at the top. Nancy identifies a shared thread among CEOs, along with the challenge they most often face. There’s never been a more important time for Canadian business leaders to come together for peer support, to problem solve challenges and creative solutions.
- [12:30] Nancy discusses two of the biggest barriers to CEOs joining a business peer support group. Plus, the real reason CEOs just want to quit and how the book she co-wrote can help!
- [16:36] As humans we each have our own unique set of challenges. Nancy explains the distinction she often sees for female CEOs and business leaders. Breaking their own rules at MacKay CEO Forums helps to ensure women prioritize themselves and have access to business peer support.
- [20:27] How ego can get in the way and the need to set aside limiting beliefs to learn and grow together.
- [22:13] The vision, focus and future Nancy sees for MacKay CEO Forums and the value of in-person connection.
- [24:06] Nancy shares her career journey first as a professor, achieving three degrees, then into the business world where she met the love of her life and started a family. She recounts the story of one date night that changed their career trajectory (not a trajectory she necessarily recommends.)
- [29:17] Nancy attributes her qualities of grit, determination and work ethic to her Italian immigrant parents. At a time when women were traditionally expected to stay at home and raise kids, Nancy’s father was determined that his three daughters would be educated, have careers and be self sufficient.
- [32:28] Whether corporate CEOs who step into the role of an organization or self-made CEO entrepreneurs, Nancy sees them all as equal and is in service to provide judgement-free peer support opportunities. The complexities and challenges may differ, but everyone has a purpose they wake up for each day.
- [34:57] Lead with generosity. One of the core values of MacKay CEO Forums is service. Nancy explains what that means to her.
- [36:41] Business as force for good. Nancy offers her viewpoint of competition and success in business.
- [40:06] Taking a stand on diversity and inclusion, Nancy recognized from the start that offering one complimentary membership per Forum group to a not-for-profit registered charity CEO was simply the right thing to do. Nancy highlights the reason why now more than ever the not-for-profit and charitable sector need to have a seat at the peer support table.
- [42:19] Fork in the road moment. In addition to the two she has already shared Nancy describes a light bulb moment that increased the clarity of her vision and the velocity of their growth and impact as an organization.
- [45:21] Nancy shares the challenges she had to overcome to facilitate the game changing growth and contribution she desired to achieve through MacKay CEO Forums. Her husband’s unwavering support and belief in her vision for over 20 years has been an essential part of that achievement.
- [48:00] With years of real-life CEO and executive experience, the Forum Chairs of each group contribute a wealth of relatedness, relevance, trust, and knowledge to the CEOs, executives, and business owners they are dedicated to serve.
- [50:50] As a community of life-long learners, Nancy illustrates how the members, Forum Chairs and speakers of MacKay CEO Forums continually provide thought-leadership and support on topical issues.
- [52:15] Nancy and Patrick wrap up with mutual appreciation!
- Selected links and people mentioned from this episode:
- MacKay CEO Forums
- “I Don’t Have Time” by Nancy MacKay and Nico Human
- TEDM Episode 213 – Tommy Mello
- Connect with REIN Canada
- REIN Canada
- [email protected]
- REIN Channel
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