“An urban-development expert...His ideas about revitalizing cities by attracting artists and high-tech workers have influenced a generation of urban planners.”
“…he's changed the framework for discussing social and economic inequality.”
Herbert Muschamp
New York Times, Year in Review
“…...Florida's work is challenging many of the verities of the field.”
“…a pioneering cartographer of talent.”
“Never before have I seen anyone capture so succinctly the values and desires of the new 'creative class' and the essence of human capital and the creative ethos.”
John Seely Brown
Former Director, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) and co-author of The Social Life of Information
“The creative-capital theory turned out - at least after preliminary testing - to provide the best explanation for Austin's high-tech transformation.”
“Florida's research and experiences over the past decade have given him the foundation on which to build a new view of business reality…”
Herbert Muschamp
InformationWeek
“Florida draws a vivid picture of what it takes to make a great 21st-century city.”
“Cuts to the core what mindsets and skills are necessary to professionally and socially make one's way in the 21st century…”
50 Best Blogs for Creative Thinking
"Richard Florida ... best-selling author and guru of the 'creative class,'"
Foon Rhee
Associate editor
The Sacramento Bee
"In my opinion, there is no one else who generates more and more valuable insights concerning the evolution of the U.S. culture than does Richard Florida."
First Friday Book Synopsis
"…a truly impressive roll-call of experts and entertainers, authors and auteurs: John Irving on advice to aspiring novelists; Chris Anderson on the power of the consumer; Eliot Spitzer on redemption; Ariana Huffington on what keeps her up at night (“that we are the next Pompeii”), Richard Florida on urban theory."
Kevin Roberts
CEO Worldwide
Saatchi & Saatchi
Richard Florida Recipient of an Honourary Doctorate by Mr. Paul Van Cauwenberghe, Principal of the Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
“Dr Richard Florida, one of the most respected academics in the field of 'creative cities'…”
Stuart Cosgrove
The Sunday Times
“I have been a fan of Richard's thought leadership for quite a while.”
Larry O'Brien
Mayor
City of Ottawa
“Today's hottest thought leader(s)...author and cultural anthropologist Richard Florida”
“I had to write to thank you for sharing your time, expertise and passion for creativity with us. I can't tell you how much I appreciated being able to learn with you and I wished we had more of an opportunity to engage in a discussion. Clearly, your influence carried on well into the afternoon session.”
Barry Bickerton
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
“Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper has long been a fan of Florida’s.”
John Rebchook
Inside Real Estate News
“…we are strong supporters of your work…”
Ben Myers
Office of the Lord Mayor
Brisbane, Australia
“…Richard Florida, the 'Creative Economy' guru…”
“The lecture was truly outstanding. I've heard Rich speak twice in the last six months and I'd love to spend more time talking…”
James Spaniolo
President
University of Texas at Arlington
Richard Florida ranked 60 of the 100 Best Twitter Feeds for Your Financial Intelligence
#24 of “100 Best Twitter Feeds for Savvy Business Students”
“Richard speaks about cities very brilliantly.”
Jacques Attali
Former Advisor to Francois Mitterrand
Asia Pacific Cities Summit
“I am a fan of Richard Florida and have been following his work for the last three decades.”
Campbell Newman
Lord Mayor of Brisbane
Asia Pacific Cities Summit
“Florida, who is considered one of the world’s leading intellectuals, is the author behind the best-seller 'The Rise of the Creative Class'…”
Yoo Jee-ho
JoongAng Daily - South Korea
“Richard Florida is the pioneering figure in urban creative theory.”
Ahn Sang-soo
Mayor
Incheon, Korea
“…Richard has ranked highly in our poll of the Top 100 Urban Thinkers, at #29.”
“…Richard Florida, author of the bestselling book 'The Rise of the Creative Class' and a renowned expert on urban renewal and the arts.”
John Pitcher
Omaha World-Herald
“Florida - the author of bestselling The Rise of the Creative Class and Who's Your City? - is one of the world's leading public intellectuals on economic competitiveness, demographic trends and cultural and technological innovation.”
“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.”
Michael Power
CEO
Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute
“100 Amazingly Insightful People You Can Learn from on Twitter”
“The Conference Board of Canada calls them 'drivers of national prosperity'...economists such as Richard Florida have celebrated their vital role in fostering creativity, innovation and trade.”
“Richard Florida is one of the brightest men out there, as he is not only a best selling author and professor, but is also the founder of Creative Class Group, a company that creates new trends in business and the community.”
“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.”
Diana Cazares
Director of Event Operations
Columbia College Chicago
“…gurus like Richard Florida, who has popularized the idea of the "creative class"…”
Francis Fukuyama
New York Times
“…the best-selling author’s brief stop in Naples on Wednesday has left its mark. His words have inspired community and business leaders and left them thinking about how to achieve what he calls the three 'Ts' for economic growth: technology, talent and tolerance .”
Laura Layden
Naples Daily News
“…the government will take the advice of economist Dr. Richard Florida whose studies noted the more-creative mega-regions are the more prosperous.”
Laurie Watt
Barrie Advance
“Richard Florida is one of the most famous authors ('The Rise of the Creative Class') and speakers in the world for innovative thinking and progress — and profit.”
Editorial
Naples Daily News
“Richard was amazing! Columbia College was overjoyed with the reception he received, and completely overwhelmed with how wonderful he was.”
Crystal Lisbon
The Lavin Agency
“…Richard Florida, educator, researcher, global best selling author, sought after speaker, and noted urban theorist…is among the foremost experts in economy building.”
Economic Development Council of Collier County
Marconews
“Richard Florida is a phenomenon… there is no academic quite like him…”
Joe Berridge
The Globe and Mail
“Richard Florida is a one-man think tank and go-to guru for companies in need of a creative jolt.”
Brad Hatch
The Australian Financial Review
“Florida-social theorist, geographer, urban planner and guru of the globalization debate…”
“…thought-provoking intellectual Richard Florida…”
“…Florida spins a new way of looking at our place in the world today.”
“'Creative Class' guru Richard Florida…”
Tobin Harshaw
The New York Times
“How Toronto fell head over heels for an American urbanist named Florida.”
Richard Florida “… has achieved superstar status in the fields of social theory and economic development over the past six years …”
David Hawkins
Times & Transcript
“…Florida is an authoritative and entertaining observer. He pulls together many of the things we see around us in high street and housing markets into an illuminating narrative of demography and urban and economic development.”
John Gapper
The Financial Times
“Richard Florida has provided extraordinary insight into one of the most poorly understood problems facing the international community today.”
Carl Schramm
President and CEO
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
“Richard Florida sounds a wake-up call for companies that thrive on the creativity of their employees, customers, and communities.”
Jim Goodnight
founder and CEO
SAS, a leading business intelligence software company that is consistently ranked among America’s best places to work.
“Florida's research and experiences over the past decade have given him the foundation on which to build a new view of business reality…”
“The feedback from Richard's speech is overwhelmingly positive and he was an important component of a very successful Global Marketing Summit.”
Elliott S. Feigenbaum
Director, Speakers-U.S. and International; Entertainment-International
Jack Morton Worldwide
“…listening to a living classic of Economy and Sociology speaking live is a tremendous experience for the young and bright men and women and I am sure it has left a deep imprint in their minds and hearts.”
Mamonov Mikhail
Federal Agency on Youth Affairs
Government of the Russian Federation
“The launch of Markham’s Economic Strategy was a huge success, thanks in no small measure to Richard’s remarkable speech.”
Stephen Chait
Town of Markham
“I wanted you to know how much I appreciated your presentation at the League of CA Cities Conference. It was excellent.”
Suzanne Mason
City of Long Beach
“Richard's presentation was fantastic…”
Julian Armour
Director, Celebridée
The Canadian Tulip Festival
“…it was very impressive to see how the audience was fascinated by his energetic speech.”
Takae Suzuki
Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.
“We have heard nothing but positive feedback about Richard's speech. He really inspired our audience!”
Jenny Hart
Midtown Alliance, Atlanta
“…thanks to Richard for such a great event. Our guests have been just raving about Richard-we will definitely need to invite him back.”
Sharon Rudy
Spencer Stuart
“…Dr. Richard Florida, widely regarded as one of the most influential scholars on the shift to the new knowledge economy…”
“Bill O’Neill, chairman of the Economic Development Council...described Florida as the 'leading light' of creativity”
Laura Layden
Naples Daily News
“Richard Florida, director of the Martin Prosperity Institute and author of The Rise of the Creative Class (among other books) is the leading guru of the creative economy.”
Sean Kelly Keenan
Eye weekly
“... your speech was inspiring and motivational.”
“Richard Florida can be counted among the great prophets of our age.”
Nicholas F. Benton
Falls News Church Press
“...world leader in urban thinking ...”
“Florida is a witty and entertaining writer...”
Richard Pachter
The Miami Herald
“Richard Florida ...guru to a generation of young city planners and urbanist developers.”
“...Dr. Richard Florida, widely regarded as one of the most influential scholars...”
“[Mayor Daley of Chicago]...clearly shares the theory, expounded in Richard Florida’s 2002 book 'The Rise of the Creative Class', that cities must attract people whose livelihoods involve imagination and innovation.”
Dan Mihalopoulos
The New York Times
“... HITACHI Technology Forum was a big success. It was a great speech by Dr. Florida with a full audience...”
Tomoko Uchida
Diamond, Inc.
“...Richard Florida, one of the best-known writers about the creative economy...”
New Brunswick Business Journal
“...Richard Florida, one of the world’s leading intellectuals on economic competitiveness, demographic trends, and cultural and technological innovation...”
“Richard Florida, one of the most thoughtful writers and thinkers about entrepreneurial communities...”
