Nick Zeeman

Nick Zeeman knows the lows and highs life can bring.

From struggling with statistics in undergraduate to becoming a self-taught data expert, he has navigated a remarkable journey, including developing a self-serve dashboard to track the outcomes related to employee injuries in a manufacturing environment.

And his success began with “zero experience in data analytics and business,” said Zeeman, a project lead for Santé Circle Health, with skills in business, technology and data analytics.

With a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph, Zeeman began his career with a vendor company providing health-related services within the Health Center at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC), where he treated injured workers and managed both occupational and non-occupational cases. He later transitioned into a leadership role within TMMC’s Health Center with a different vendor company, where he helped lead a pilot program aimed at enhancing employee wellness. This role involved complex case management and the added challenge of developing the company’s data analysis system.

“I was very hesitant about this opportunity, having nearly failed statistics in my undergrad,” said Zeeman, who initially worked from simple Excel spreadsheets. “I felt there was a better way.”

Teaching himself Power BI, he built a self-serve dashboard that gave all key TMMC stakeholders direct access to data insights.

“I was tasked with showcasing the success of a newly implemented employee wellness model to TMMC’s senior leadership, identifying ways to digitally track employee movement in and out of our wellness centers while demonstrating how the model improved productivity and reduced the associated costs of disability. This accomplishment ultimately led to securing a full contract with TMMC, enabling us to manage all operations related to employee wellness at both the Cambridge and Woodstock plants,” said Zeeman. “As a result, we were able to build more wellness centers and significantly expand our team.”

That success also opened the door to his current role at Santé Circle Health, blending business and analytics expertise.

Now, from self-taught expert to master’s program student, Zeeman is turning a new page in his career story.

To do that, he turned to Ivey Business School’s Master of Management: Analytics (MM-A) program to give him expertise in both aspects of his career.

The 12-month hybrid program blends online learning with monthly in-person classes in downtown Toronto, using Ivey’s renowned Case-Method Learning to develop technical and leadership skills – a perfect fit for Zeeman’s goals.

“I realized I had a real passion for data and data analysis,” Zeeman explained. “I’m doing this program to consolidate my learning because I don’t have the technical background my peers do. I have more of the leadership and business skills.”

Through his online research, Zeeman was introduced to Ivey’s superior reputation and the details of the program. It was the perfect fit for his busy schedule.

“The structure was very important,” he said. “I had just started my Project Lead role, so going full-time was not an option. The weekly lectures and monthly on-site classes in Toronto fit perfectly into my busy schedule.”

Zeeman is honest when he says the new program and job were a lot to handle. “I would not recommend starting a new job while getting into this program,” he joked.

Still, Zeeman was careful with his decision to go back to school.

“I didn’t go the Ivey site and hit ‘APPLY,’” he said. After indicating his interest in the program, Zeeman spent time talking to Program Director Ally Hobson, who helped him see how the program was the right fit.

The challenge of returning to the classroom was more than offset by the flexibility of the program and how it fits in with his ongoing story.

“I find the skills we are learning are very applicable to the real world of business,” he said, who is looking forward to being part of the global Ivey alumni network and the services it provides. “I’m focusing on the technical skills and going in the direction of managing smaller teams in the technical space.”