In this week’s episode I talk with international tastemaker, entrepreneur and philanthropist, India Hicks.
Raised in England, India grew up within extraordinary circumstances. Her own father, David Hicks, was an icon in Interior Design, creating a kaleidoscope of color with his signature geometric prints. India’s mother, The Lady Pamela Mountbatten, is an extraordinary woman herself, who served as both bridesmaid and Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty, The Queen.
In 1981, at the request of her godfather, His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, India appeared in front of a television audience of over 1 billion people, in her role as bridesmaid to then Lady Diana Spencer.
For the past twenty-five years India has lived a life on her own terms, choosing to live and raise her five children with her partner, David on the tiny Harbour Island, often described as the ‘crown jewel’ of the Bahamas.
Just like her father, India is a decidedly creative person and has produced successful partnerships and business ventures in both interior and product design and written several design-focused books on her island life and British heritage.
In my former life as a luxury publicist I had the great fortune of working with India when she launched an eponymous lifestyle brand six years ago, offering artisanal collections that also provided business opportunities to other women looking to run their own business on their terms and in their own time.
In today’s episode we discuss the lessons learned in building and subsequently closing that business, the personal impact of life in lockdown, her decision to marry her partner after 25 years and touch on family life, vaccinations, her newest book, “An Entertaining Story,” and most importantly India’s dedicated work with The Global Empowerment Mission and Harbour Island Food Bank.
For Royalty lovers we even touch on the Netflix show, ‘The Crown,’ who’s fourth season portrayed the shocking and traumatic assassination of India’s grandfather, Earl Mountbatten of Burma at the hands of the I.R.A.
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did making it.