Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggy Doherty
Hi Maggy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, even during my journey to becoming a dietitian. While in nutrition graduate school at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I dabbled in various side hustles- from managing social media for a coffee shop to writing restaurant food reviews and even publishing my own cookbook. When I landed my first job as a dietitian at Parkland Hospital, I kept freelancing, providing some outpatient nutrition counseling and creating RD exam prep materials on the side.
I’ve never been one to follow the traditional path- I don’t enjoy clocking in, accruing PTO, or following rigid rules. I thrive on creativity and doing things my own way, which led me to open my first nutrition practice, Doherty Nutrition, in May 2019.
Over the past 5 years, Doherty Nutrition expanded from just me to a team of about 30. While I cherish the growth of this incredible company, I found that I lost a part of myself along the way. As roles like marketing, web design, and even client care were delegated to my team, I went from wearing all the hats to stepping back and letting others run the show. It’s an entrepreneur’s dream to build a company that can operate without you, but there’s a bittersweet feeling when you realize you’ve become replaceable.
Now, I’m back in my entrepreneurial element, excited to be in the trenches of starting and growing a business again. With my new practice, Maggy The Dietitian, I’m focused on coaching dietitians on how to scale their practices, teaching clinicians the best approaches for eating disorder care, and providing nutrition counseling for a variety of clients.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has definitely been bumpy, with plenty of lessons learned the hard way. When I launched Doherty Nutrition in 2019, it was just me- every decision, mistake, and win was on my shoulders. I was figuring things out as I went, often working around the clock, squeezing in extra clients, and taking calls after hours. I thought this hustle was just the cost of success, but in reality, it was costing me my energy, happiness, and mental health, leading quickly to compassion fatigue and burnout.
By 2020, I began expanding the team and hired my first PRN dietitian, a friend. It seemed like a smart decision since we already knew each other, but coaching someone I was close to turned out to be awkward, and when it didn’t work out, it felt like a personal failure. I started internalizing the business setbacks, believing they reflected my own shortcomings, which only deepened the toll on my self-worth that I incorrectly and deeply intertwined with the business’s success.
In 2021, hiring struggles became a recurring challenge. There were several hires that simply weren’t the right fit, and the turnover hit hard- not just financially, but emotionally. I found myself drained and full of doubt. By 2022, I faced my biggest setback yet, losing a significant amount of money due to hiring mistakes, employee turnover, and the strain of business expansion. It was tough to separate my self-worth from the business’s ups and downs; every financial loss felt like a personal blow.
Looking back, I recognize these challenges as essential parts of my journey- expensive lessons, but invaluable ones. Each setback pushed me to reassess, adapt, and find the resilience to keep moving forward, even when it felt like everything was falling apart. I’ve come to understand that these failures taught me what no textbook, course, or coach ever could and it was the price I paid to learn these lessons on my own.
Now, as I build my new business, Maggy The Dietitian, I’m able to take these hard-earned lessons and use them to help my business coaching clients. I guide my dietitians to spot the yellow flags before it’s too late, navigate the challenges of growth, and embrace their setbacks as stepping stones. It’s fulfilling to use my past experiences to empower others, helping them avoid the pitfalls I encountered and ultimately find a smoother path to their success.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Maggy The Dietitian?
I’m Maggy Doherty- founder of a national dietetics practice, eating disorder specialist, and dietitian business coach. As a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist Consultant (CEDS-C), I focus on providing comprehensive care to clients with eating disorders and supervising clinicians to equip them with the skills they need to offer effective support. I’ve founded one of the largest group dietetics practices in the country, and I draw on this experience to specialize in business coaching for dietitians who want to start or scale their private practices.
What sets me apart is my authentic approach, friendly demeanor, and genuine compassion. I don’t just give textbook advice- I share the truth of my experiences, successes, and setbacks so you can learn from someone who’s truly “been there, done that.” Whether you need expert guidance for navigating eating disorder treatment, sports nutrition counseling from an actual athlete dietitian, or practical advice for growing your business, I’m your go-to person.
My practice, Maggy The Dietitian, offers tailored services for both clients and my fellow dietitians. For clients, I provide self-pay nutrition counseling specializing in eating disorders, sports nutrition, and helping health-conscious individuals optimize their well-being. For dietitians, I offer business coaching, eating disorder supervision, and my signature program (The Dietitian Business Network), which provides a place where dietitian business owners grow through practical training, community support, and personalized coaching.
At the heart of Maggy The Dietitian is my commitment to empowering others. I’m proud to build a brand that blends professional expertise with a personal touch, making it accessible for people to get the care and coaching they need. Whether you’re seeking to overcome an eating disorder or expand your practice, my goal is to help you achieve meaningful, sustainable progress.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is the necessity of setting and maintaining boundaries. As my practice grew, the lines between my personal and professional life became increasingly blurred. I found myself constantly working after hours, squeezing in an extra meeting, working weekends, and talking about work with my co-workers/friends after 5PM, all under the misguided belief that this hustle was the price of success and happiness.
In the early days, I was too casual about boundaries, especially when it came to hiring friends and family. While I thought this would foster a friendly workplace culture, it instead led to confusion and friction. The dynamics shifted, turning what was once a supportive environment into a source of stress for me. The camaraderie I cherished outside of work began to fade as tensions within me, affecting both my personal life and professional effectiveness.
This experience drove home the lesson that boundaries are crucial- they must be protected as fiercely as you would your values and anything important to you. Mixing personal relationships with professional ones can be done, but it would be lying to say it’s not tricky. I’d encourage others to set clear expectations, reinforce boundaries, protect your personal relationship, and get business coaching or relationship therapy to ensure your relationships is cherished and protected both inside and outside the workplace.
Now, I do my best to communicate my boundaries clearly to others and most importantly, don’t allow myself to ignore my own values. I’ve learned how to make decisions that are aligned with my values and avoid commitments that overstep my boundaries. I still make mistakes, have regrets, but I’m learning and guarding my values fiercely for the better of myself, my clients, and my business. <3
Pricing:
- $160/hr: Nutrition Counseling
- $180/hr: Business Coaching & Professional Supervision
- $27.50-330/month: Dietitian Business Network Membership
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maggythedietitian.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggythedietitian
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Maggy-The-Dietitian/61559845947499/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MaggyTheDietitian
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggythedietitian
