Richard Florida

Combining in-depth analysis, cutting-edge trends, compelling personal stories, and a touch of humor, it is no wonder Richard Florida is one of the world's most sought-after speakers. As a leading public intellectual, Esquire Magazine recently named him one of their "Best and Brightest."

Esteemed global organizations and individuals who have requested Florida's insights and contributions include: HRH Charles, The Prince of Wales; the Office of the US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton; The Brookings Institution; The White House Council; Cisco Systems; the Saudi Government; A.T. Kearney; Johnson & Johnson; IBM; the Milken Institute; Coca-Cola; eBay; Motorola; the World Economic Forum; the United Nations; the Human Rights Institute; the Motion Picture Association of America; Deloitte; Citibank; The World Bank; Raytheon; Microsoft; and several others.

Florida's latest book, The Great Reset (Harper Collins US/Random House Canada), was recently named CNN's book of the month. His previous book, Who's Your City?, is a national and international bestseller, and was named Amazon's book of the month. Florida's breakthrough ideas on the economic crisis have garnered impressive media attention including the cover story of The Atlantic and several NPR interviews. Florida was also recently named the European Union's 2009 Ambassador for Creativity and Innovation.

He also authored The Rise of the Creative Class, which received the Washington Monthly's Political Book Award and was cited as a major breakthrough idea by The Harvard Business Review, as well as The Flight of the Creative Class. His books have been translated in dozens of languages.

Florida is a regular columnist with The Atlantic and has written numerous columns for The Globe and Mail, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and The Financial Times. He has been featured on the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, NPR, and several other major media. He is Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute and Professor of Business and Creativity at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Florida held a professorship at Carnegie Mellon University and served as a visiting professor at Harvard and MIT and a visiting fellow of the Brookings Institution.

Florida is the founder of the Creative Class Group (CCG), a global advisory services firm charting new trends and strategies for business, government, and community competitiveness. The CCG team is comprised of next-generation thinkers and strategists who offer companies, associations, and regions access to leading-edge knowledge, trends, consulting, education, and professional development.

Florida earned his bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. from Columbia University.