Inspired entrepreneurship
Kara Hachey flipped her school project into a successful business.
In 2005, while a Master of Business Administration student at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Hachey was given an assignment: she had to develop a viable business plan suited to the community.
Having worked in the gymnastic field for some time, Hachey recognized the need to bring new and innovative gym programs to the area.
Fateful words from one of her professors, Dr. Mike Oliver, brought the idea to fruition. “He suggested that I needed to ‘solve parents' pain’,” explains Hachey.
Considering the constant juggling of work, family life and children’s extracurricular activities, Hachey decided to bring the gym to the kids.
Her idea, which involved setting up state-of-the-art gymnastics equipment in the school gymnasium and have staff entertain children after school until their parents arrived, provides a healthy alternative to other forms of after school care.
A winning idea
Hachey's idea was a winner both inside and outside the classroom. She was able to take her business idea from her course to reality thanks to funding she secured through winning numerous business competitions.
With start-up money, Hachey founded Go-Go Gymnastics Inc., a mobile gymnastics club for children of all ages.
In a time where our society is in critical need for increased physical activity, Go-Go Gymnastics gives kids a chance to keep fit while having fun. “With child obesity on the rise, a physical activity service brought to the child was a perfect fit for the market,” says the now 25-year-old Hachey.
Since she formed Go-Go Gymnastics in January 2006, Hachey and her staff of about 20 have been busy offering classes in five elementary schools. Over the next year, Go-Go Gymnastics will be working with corporate partners to offer its program throughout New Brunswick. “Every school, in all districts, and every child will now have exposure to gymnastics with this new structure.”
A great foundation at UNB
Hachey, a former member of the provincial Junior Achievement organization, credits UNB with encouraging and supporting her entrepreneurial drive. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and her MBA, she is proud to encourage others by hiring a number of UNB students and graduates as employees.
