Richard Florida

Bio

Richard Florida is Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute and Professor of Business and Creativity at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Previously, Florida has held professorships at George Mason University and Carnegie Mellon University and taught as a visiting professor at Harvard and MIT. Florida earned his Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. from Columbia University. His research provides unique, data-driven insight into the social, economic and demographic factors that drive the 21st century world economy.

Academic Positions

2017  University Professor; University of Toronto

2007-present  Professor of Business and Creativity; Rotman School of Management

2007-present  Director; Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management

2004-2007  Hirst Professor of Public Policy; George Mason University

2001-2005  Director, Software Industry Center; Carnegie Mellon University

1996-2004  Heinz Professor of Economic Development; Carnegie Mellon University

1993-1998  Director, Center for Economic Development; Carnegie Mellon University

1995-1996  Visiting Professor; Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Honors and Awards

2010  Invited Lecturer; Royal Geographic Society, London, England

2009  Commencement Speech; University of Toronto

2006  Voices of Innovation; BusinessWeek

2005  Best and Brightest; Esquire Magazine

2005  Inaugural Parnes Creativity Award; Creative Problem-Solving Institute

2004  Breakthrough Idea of the Year; Harvard Business Review

2002  Book of the Year; Washington Monthly