Business Alumni Spotlight: Nicki Hoyne
IADT is proud to celebrate Business alumna Nicki Hoyne (Class of 2007), serial entrepreneur and founder of Nicki Hoyne, an award‑winning B Corp Certified footwear brand produced in Spain and Portugal. What began as an idea has since grown into an internationally recognised brand built on quality, creativity and resilience.
Nicki often reflects on her time at IADT as a defining period in her life, one that reshaped her confidence, academic trajectory and professional ambition. She speaks about arriving at IADT uncertain, but quickly finding momentum through the practical nature of the Business programme and the collaborative, energetic environment created by her peers.
“My time at IADT was a real turning point for me. Something just clicked. I went from being a straight D student in school to achieving all A’s.
It was the practicality of the course work, the energy of my classmates, and lecturers were deeply invested in seeing us succeed. They challenged us, backed us, and believed in us.
Nearly 20 years on, that support has never faded. They are still cheering me on.
I am incredibly grateful to be recognised by a place that gave me so much confidence and direction at such a pivotal time in my life.”
Since graduating in 2007, Nicki has built an impressive career as a serial entrepreneur. As founder of Nicki Hoyne, she has established an international footwear brand grounded in ethical production, creativity and long‑term thinking. Despite having no formal footwear design training, her vision, positivity and strong work ethic have enabled her to build an award‑winning B Corp certified business.
Nicki is also generous in sharing advice with fellow alumni and recent graduates. She speaks openly about the importance of resilience, encouraging graduates to reframe failure as an asset rather than a setback. Taking risks, learning quickly and trusting the process, she believes, can accelerate growth in unexpected ways.
For Nicki, community is central to entrepreneurial success. She emphasises the power of building strong networks and surrounding yourself with like‑minded people who see entrepreneurship as a shared effort rather than a solo pursuit.
Nicki Hoyne’s journey is a powerful example of how confidence, creativity and perseverance, nurtured during time at IADT, can lead to meaningful, global impact.