Alicia McKay is the author of From Strategy to Action: A Guide to Getting Shit Done In The Public Sector, You Don't Need An MBA: Leadership Lessons that Cut through the Crap, and Local Legends: How to Make a Difference in Local Government.
Alicia writes regular essays on strategy, power, and culture, and her work has been featured in print, TV and radio. She has published the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter every week since July 2018.
Alicia has worked with over 100 organisations on strategy and leadership, trained thousands of leaders in strategic skills, and partnered with more than 50 Councils. Her Local Legends programme has helped hundreds of elected and executive leaders work together and make better decisions.
In 2021, Alicia founded the Not An MBA executive education programme. Over 500 global leaders have graduated Not An MBA since launch.
Alicia has appeared at conferences in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA to speak about strategy, change, and decision-making. She runs in-house workshops on strategic skills, specialising in the public sector. In 2025, LGIU in the UK named Alicia one of the Top 25 Thinkers in Local Government.
Previous projects include podcasts (What's On Your Mind?, The Alicia McKay Show), courses, (Meetings that Matter, Consultants of Choice) and collaborations with professional organisations such as Local Government New Zealand (the Local Legends Toolkit.)
Alicia holds degrees in Political Science and Media and Communications. Before launching her consulting practice, Alicia worked as a policy advisor and management consultant.
Alicia is an avid reader and aspiring novelist. She is currently working on a book about power literacy, and her first work of fiction. Alicia lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her three children.
For media appearances and podcast requests, contact info@aliciamckay.co.nz. For speaking and training enquiries, fill in this enquiry form.
Learn more about Alicia's journey from foster care and teen motherhood to international consultant and global strategy expert in this NZ Herald feature.