Richard Florida

Topics

Presentations

Who's Your City? How the Creative Economy is Making the Place Where You Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life
Place is becoming more relevant to the global economy and our individual lives. The choice of where to live, therefore, is not an arbitrary one. It is arguably the most important decision we make, as important as choosing a spouse or a career.

On Business Strategy: The Creative Corporation
Ever wonder why some companies die while others thrive? As Florida tells it, we have entered a whole new era of business competition. Having led large-scale studies of industries and companies from Toyota and other leading manufacturers to the software industry and high-end design, Florida shows how the key to success lies in three areas: harnessing cutting-edge design and innovation inside and outside the enterprise; attracting and retaining top high-performing talent; and picking the right set of locations. With real-world insight culled from more than two decades of research and his work with leading CEOs, Florida shows the keys to sustaining your creative edge and performance.

On the ‘Brain Drain’: Competing for Talent
Florida shows you the keys for attracting, retaining and managing the best and the brightest. Money is important but it won’t seal the deal, Florida argues. The best and the brightest are intrinsically motivated and seek out challenge, flexibility and the ability to work with other top talent in their working lives.

On Marketing: Capturing the Creative Class Consumer
There is no more powerful construct in marketing today than Florida’s idea of the "creative class." While others talk about fragmenting markets and long tails, Florida shows you why the creative class of 40 million Americans with 50% of the wages and 70% of disposable income is a group your company can’t afford to miss.

On Real Estate: Real Estate for the Creative Economy
Location, location, location. It’s an old real estate adage, but it matters today more than ever before. Florida’s work on demographics and migration of the creative class has made him one of the most sought after speakers and consultants to the real estate industry.

Summary Profile

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, alongside luminaries such as Bill Clinton, Bill Gates and Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor. As a leading public intellectual, Esquire Magazine recently named him one of their Best and Brightest. Richard has also been appointed to the Business Innovation Factory's Research Advisory Council and recently named European Ambassador for Creativity and Innovation.

He is author of the bestselling book, 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. His previous books, including The Breakthrough Illusion and Beyond Mass Production, paved the way for his provocative insights into how creativity is revolutionizing the global economy. Florida has authored pieces for The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Economist, The Harvard Business Review, The Atlantic, The Chronicle for Higher Education, U.S. News, World Report, and more.

Highlights:

• Foreign Policy top 100 Tweeters
• Time's 140 Best Twitter Feeds
• Named one of Design Futures Council 2011 Senior Fellows
• Honorary Degree's from Niagara University & Columbus College of Art and Design
• Fast Company Leadership Hall of Fame

Area of Expertise:

• City, Regional, and Global Economic Growth
• Innovation and the Culture of Talent Attraction and Retention
• Innovation Real Estate Analysis
• Consumer Marketing and Strategy

Client Testimonials:

"Richard's presentation at our Annual General Meeting was both powerful and inspirational. Community and business leaders left the meeting with renewed passion for building a strong knowledge-based economy in our city."

CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute

"Your speech at Columbia College Chicago was insightful, thought provoking and wonderful! We have received rave reviews and a tremendous amount of positive feedback from our students and guests."

Director of Event Operations, Columbia College Chicago