Theresita Richard

Chief People & Culture Officer; Global Head of Justice & Belonging

Professional Overview
Theresita Richard is a seasoned human resources and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) executive with over 20 years of experience driving transformative change within leading global organizations. As the Chief People & Culture Officer and Global Head of Justice & Belonging at Patagonia, she is responsible for shaping the company's people strategy, fostering a culture of belonging, and advancing its commitment to social and environmental justice.

Experience Summary

Current Role
Theresita Richard currently serves as the Chief People & Culture Officer and Global Head of Justice & Belonging at Patagonia. In this dual role, she is responsible for overseeing the company's global human resources operations, talent management, and employee engagement initiatives. Additionally, she leads Patagonia's efforts to embed justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles across the organization, ensuring the company's workforce and business practices align with its core values.

Career Progression
Prior to joining Patagonia, Theresita held various senior-level HR and DEI roles at prominent organizations, including Capital One, Nordstrom, and Starbucks. As the Managing Vice President - Head of Global Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Capital One, she developed and implemented comprehensive DEI strategies that drove measurable improvements in representation, belonging, and inclusive leadership. Earlier in her career, Theresita held HR business partner and operations management positions at companies like The Home Depot and Procter & Gamble, where she gained valuable experience in driving organizational change and supporting high-performing teams.

Academic Background
Theresita holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington, where she graduated with honors.

Areas of Expertise

• Strategic human resources management

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program design and implementation

• Talent acquisition, development, and retention

• Organizational culture transformation

• HR policy and process optimization

• Employee engagement and change management

Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Theresita has been recognized for her ability to drive meaningful, sustainable change in support of more inclusive and equitable workplaces. At Nordstrom, she led the development of innovative diversity and belonging initiatives that resulted in increased employee engagement and improved talent pipeline diversity. At Capital One, her work in establishing global DEI strategies and embedding inclusive leadership practices was instrumental in fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture.

Conclusion
Theresita Richard is a respected HR and DEI leader with a proven track record of delivering transformative results for the organizations she has served. In her current role at Patagonia, she is poised to further the company's commitment to social and environmental justice, while shaping a people-centric culture that empowers employees to thrive and reach their full potential.