Regent’s is the UK’s most cosmopolitan university with more than 80% of its students drawn from 140 countries around the world. Its global alumni network comprises founders and entrepreneurs, chief executives of luxury brands, social media influencers, royalty, actors, fashion designers, politicians, business executives and board members of international family firms.
As a member of Walpole, Regent’s shares a common interest in strengthening the luxury sector’s talent pipeline and, in 2021, introduced its latest collaboration: The Walpole Professorships. With a belief that the luxury leaders of today can inspire the leaders of tomorrow, the Regent’s x Walpole partnership both honours and connects influential senior figures from some of the world’s best-known luxury brands – starting this year with Harrods, McLaren Automotive, The Peninsula London and dunhill – directly with students.
‘We’re delighted to be partnering with Walpole to launch the Visiting Professorships programme. Both organisations share a common interest in strengthening the luxury sector’s talent pipeline and together we have created a partnership that honours some of luxury’s finest CEOs and MDs and is bound to inspire our students.
By inviting the visiting professors to Regent’s to share their wealth of experience with our students, the leaders of tomorrow, we have created a prestigious initiative as part of the future-facing, well-connected and entrepreneurial education that we promise.’
Professor Geoff Smith, Vice-Chancellor & CEO, Regent’s University London
‘The future of British luxury is now in the hands of the next generation and this exciting partnership with Regent’s University London, will certainly help our members get ahead of the curve. But the real value of this partnership will be its benefit for all parties involved and I am so looking forward to helping to inspire the global luxury leaders of tomorrow.’
Helen Brocklebank, CEO of Walpole CEO
“The future of British luxury is being shaped by the next generation; a generation that is entirely global in its mindset and shaped by our digitally interconnected world.
For Harrods, the partnership with Regent’s University London provides their international students with real-world experience of a fast-paced environment, while allowing us to learn from this next generation of leaders from around the world.”
Michael Ward, Chairman of Walpole and MD of Harrods
Michael Ward, Harrods Managing Director and Chairman of Walpole, is one of the founding members of The Walpole Professorships scheme. He regularly invites Regent’s students on behind-the-scenes tours of Harrods, provides exclusive guest
lectures on campus and, above all, shares his unique insight into the world-famous store.
As part of the relationship, Regent’s Fashion Marketing students Shrimithraa (Shri) Dhandhapaani and Hsieh-Tse (Jeff) Hsiao completed a two-month internship at Harrods’ Knightsbridge store. Shri worked with Harrods By Appointment team, which offers an unrivalled service that makes personal shopping an effortless pursuit. She said: “[The internship] was an eye opener to the fastpaced environment of luxury fashion retail and I’ve learned the importance of building relationships with clients. My experience at Harrods is the highlight of my time at Regent’s."
Jeff completed an internship with Harrods Digital Marketing and Social Media Content team and found his new calling from the experience. He said: “As a Mandarin speaker, I was able to use this skill to work on content for Harrods Chinese customer base. This is definitely something I would like to explore further in the future."
To find out more and to get involved with the Professorship, please email Stephanie Robinson on [email protected].
