Niki Richards

About

Prior to launching and selling my own sustainable beauty business, Organa Beauty & Wellbeing, I have worked within the fashion, luxury and beauty sectors for the last 25 years in various senior marketing management and training roles. Companies I have worked with include Publicis, Elizabeth Arden, Kurt Geiger, Chanel, and many fashion start-ups. Within higher education, I launched and led the MA Luxury Management program at Regent's University London and have been a lecturer at the London College of Fashion. 

I gained my MSc in Psychology at Kingston University and BA (Hons) in Business at Westminster University. I also have a PGCHE teaching qualification. My broad areas of interest are;  marketing, sustainability, entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and professional/career development, especially within the creative industries.  These harness both my industry and teaching experience gained over the last 20 years.

I love art, film, and my dog who I enjoy going for long walks with.  I am passionate about wellbeing and cultural self-identity, reflecting my research interests within the psychology of appearance but also work and wellbeing. I am also an investor in small start-up companies, helping them to launch and grow their businesses. 

My career highlight was launching my own sustainable beauty venture and this has taught me a great deal about myself and my skills. My other milestone was the first breakthrough advertising role that I secured within Publicis (part of the Havas Group), working with high-profile brands and campaigns. This first graduate role opened doors and networks, that have allowed me to have an incredible career in the fashion, luxury and beauty sectors over the last 25 years.

I hope and aim to inspire, engage and guide students through their own journey within the fashion and creative industries. 

Academic responsibilities

Course Director and Senior Lecturer

Qualifications

  • MSc Psychology
  • PGCHE
  • BA(Hons) Business Studies

Teaching and learning

My specialist area of interest is marketing, sustainability, entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and professional/career development, especially within the creative industries.  These areas of interest harnesses both my industry and teaching experience, gained over the last 20 years.

Qualifications and expertise

  • Psychology - consumer behavior, communications and identity
  • Business - marketing, communications and entrepreneurship
  • Education - professional practice, personal development and career/talent development

Undergraduate courses taught

Postgraduate courses taught

Leadership and management

I led and managed my own sustainable beauty business, Organa Beauty & Wellbeing and was a programme director at Regents University for the MA Luxury Management programme. I have also held management roles with various fashion, luxury, and beauty brands mainly within marketing and communications.

I am now the Course Director for the BA(Hons) Fashion Promotion and Communications within the Department of Fashion at Kingston School of Art and Chair of the BME Alumni Advisory Group.

University responsibilities

  • Course Director
  • Chair, BME Alumni Advisory Group

Public and CIVIC roles

  • Volunteer Counsellor