Casey Richardson | 20 Under 40
Casey Richardson
General Manager and Director of Operations
West Ridge Mall
Casey Richardson serves as general manager and director of operations at West Ridge Mall, where she oversees property operations and plays an active role in the mall’s ongoing redevelopment. Prior to joining West Ridge in 2024, Casey spent seven years with The Buckle, where she developed her career in retail management and leadership.
Casey earned her degree in chemistry from the University of Northern Colorado. She is actively involved in the Topeka community and currently serves on the Capper Foundation Board of Trustees. She and her husband, Garrett, have two children, Braxton and Brynleigh. She is proud to call Topeka home and values the opportunity to build her career, raise her family and contribute to the community around her.
What is non-negotiable for you? Why?
Doing the right thing, even when it is inconvenient. Leadership comes with plenty of moments when the easiest decision and the right decision aren't the same. For me, integrity is non-negotiable, whether that means having a difficult conversation, admitting when I got something wrong, or making a decision that may not make everyone happy. At the end of the day, I want the people who work with me, my family, and my community to know that my word means something and that I will do what I believe is right, even when no one is watching.
What’s a lesson you’ve carried with you throughout your life? How has it shaped you?
You don't have to wait until you feel ready to do something hard. Some of the biggest opportunities in my life have come before I felt completely prepared for them, and I've learned that growth usually happens when you say yes and then figure out how to rise to the occasion. I try not to let fear of failing keep me from trying something new, asking the question, or taking on a challenge that feels a little bigger than me. That mindset has pushed me outside of my comfort zone many times, but it has also taught me that I am capable of far more than I would have known if I had waited until I felt ready.
What led you to your career?
I definitely didn't grow up thinking I would run a shopping mall. I actually went to college for chemistry, but while I was in school, I started working in retail and fell in love with the business side of it. I loved the pace, the people, solving problems, developing a team, and the fact that no two days were ever the same.
What started as a job became a career, and eventually an opportunity came along at West Ridge that I couldn't pass up. It gave me the chance to take what I had learned running a retail business and look at it from a completely different perspective. Now I get to think about everything from operations and construction to events, tenant relationships, safety, and the overall experience someone has when they walk through our doors.
My career path wasn't planned, but I've learned that sometimes the opportunities you never saw coming are the ones that fit you best.
What motivates you professionally? Why?
Progress motivates me. I have a hard time accepting “that's just the way we've always done it” as an answer. I naturally look at things and think about what could be better, what we could try, or what problem we could solve next.
That doesn't always mean making a huge change. Sometimes progress is fixing something that has frustrated people for years, helping an employee grow into something they didn't know they were capable of, creating an event that brings people together, or simply leaving something a little better at the end of the day than it was that morning.
I think that's why I enjoy my work so much. There is always another problem to solve, another idea worth trying, and another opportunity to make an impact. I don't need every idea to work, but I never want to stop looking for ways to move forward.
What’s your hidden talent? How did you discover it?
I can juggle! My childhood softball coach made us learn how to do it, and somehow it has stuck with me all these years. It's not a skill that comes in handy very often, but every once in a while I get the opportunity to surprise someone with it. Looking back, I think it was my coach's way of teaching us that we can do hard things, or maybe it was simply a reminder to step away from the competitiveness of the game and have a little fun. Either way, both turned out to be pretty great life lessons.
What’s one thing you’ll always say yes to? Why?
Ice cream. With a friend, with my kids, or completely by myself, I’m not picky about the company! There are very few situations that can’t be improved by ice cream. It can be a celebration, a pick-me-up after a bad day, an excuse to catch up with someone, or just because it’s Tuesday. If someone asks, “Want to go get ice cream?” the answer is always yes.
