Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in consultancy but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nick Kuzyk, Owner of Meadowbank Strategic Partners Inc., located in Calgary, AB, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Meadowbank Strategic Partners Inc. is the investor relations-focused consulting firm of Nick Kuzyk, MBA. Based in Calgary, the firm exists to help public companies tackle the important work not getting done due to a lack of expertise, time, energy and/or human capital. The firm also offers senior executives the option of working on confidential opportunities across eight practice areas done discretely by a third party.

Tell us about yourself

After working in investor relations and corporate development for 20 years, I realized that my level of expertise and network size were significant enough to open a consulting business. In early 2020, I informed my employer that I was leaving to start my consultancy but that they could be a client if they wanted to, which they did! Since then, I have worked with nearly 20 companies and am motivated to provide great service to them and their shareholders. My goal is always to 'leave it better than you found it,' and clients seem to appreciate that approach.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is definitely evolving from being a one-person operation to an employer with staff. This has been a revelation not only for me but also for clients. Learning how to hire and train an employee was a goal of mine over the last two years and is something that I accomplished early in 2022.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Risk. You have to become comfortable with the cycles and fluctuations in your market and be smart about mitigating those risks as a business owner, employer, and service provider to clients.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Go for it. Crossing over from earning income to generating revenue is a mind-blowing transition that will change your life for various reasons.
  2. There are no guarantees, but if you already work hard, are self-motivated, and can solve a problem for clients/customers, then you can be in business for yourself.
  3. You don't have to do it alone. Use your network and online tools to seek help in areas where you lack knowledge. Collaboration and networking make it much less daunting to be an entrepreneur, and entrepreneurs are usually fairly helpful to one another.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If you would like to learn more about Meadowbank and its IR consulting services, among other practice areas, please visit www.mdwbnk.com, where you can download a pitch deck or contact me (Nick Kuzyk, Principal & Owner).

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.mdwbnk.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeadowbankIR
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mdwbnk/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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