Rikki's speaking journey began in the late 1960s, grounded in a foundation of drama and performance. After completing a full-time drama course and working as a Butlins Redcoat, Rikki's path took an unexpected turn into the financial services industry. This detour proved serendipitous, as it provided Rikki with the opportunity to hone their speaking skills, delivering technical training sessions to sales teams. It was here that Rikki discovered the power of translating complex information into engaging presentations, a skill that would become a hallmark of their career.

 

Throughout the 1980s, Rikki's reputation as an industry speaker grew, marked by headlining at the Barbican conference centre and becoming one of the first Product Managers in the UK Life Insurance industry. This period also saw Rikki delve into Network Marketing, further sharpening their abilities in delivering product demonstrations and sales training.

 

The 1990s marked a significant shift as Rikki left the corporate world to become a PR and Marketing consultant and professional speaker. As the Technology Guru for the financial services industry, Rikki educated and informed through briefing documents, white papers, press releases, and conferences. This role underscored Rikki's talent for making the technical accessible, a theme that would persist throughout their career.

 

Rikki also became an active member of Toastmasters International twice winning the UK and Ireland speech evaluation contest establishing their position as a leading speech coach. During this time, they also played a pivotal role in establishing the regional meetings and training services for the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management, helping launch its first Successful Selling Conference. Their expertise led to the publication of two books, "Sell Your Way to Success" and "The ABC of the WWW," cementing their status as a thought leader in Sales and Technology.