From 1981 to 1984 she worked as a publicist at Goldberg-Ehrlich Public Relations and Michael Levine Public Relations.
She formed Nanci Ryder Public Relations in 1984.
In 1979 she began a three year career as a talent agent at David Shapira & Associates.
In 1987 she partnered with Paul Baker and Larry Winokur to launch Baker Winokur Ryder Public Relations. In 1999 the company was sold to Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.