“He’s a very very smart demographer, a visionary, a creative.  He looks at data in a way that no one else does.”

“The [UK] government (David Cameron’s) New Guru.”

“… his ideas have influenced state and city governments, city mayors, multinational corporations, property developers, chief executives and urban planners.”

“Richard Florida is perhaps the leading urban theorist of our time.”

“… few urban theorists have influenced urban policy-makers as much as Richard Florida.”

“Florida has been tremendously influential among local elected officials and economic development organizations, especially in the U.S. but also in other parts of the world.”

“Thank-you for coming all the way to speak at our London Conference yesterday. It was a spellbinding session and really rounded off the day provoking thought and exciting people about the possibility of change.”

“Richard Florida has had an impact on every city in the world.”

  Richard Florida cited alongside Bill Gates of Microsoft and Reid Hoffman of  LinkedIn Corporation as one of the most powerful people with powerful statements in “Eight Shocking Quotes from 2012 that will Redefine Our Future”

“It was fantastic to listen to Richard…the performance not only fulfilled our expectations but opened a new stage of inspirations for our Ministry to work on the development of regions.”

“Your substantive insights on ‘Creative Cities and Urban Development Reform’ contributed greatly to the deliberations at the Conference.”

Foreign Policy top 100 Tweeters

Time’s 140 Best Twitter Feeds

One of Top Web-Savvy Professors in 2012

#1 Thought Leader 2012, Thought Leader Index

“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.”

“Richard Florida is the thought leader of the ‘Future Cities’ movement that is redefining global real estate.”

“……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.”

“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…”

“Florida draws a vivid picture of what it takes to make a great 21st-century city.”

“…Richard Florida, maybe the most famous living public intellectual…”

“Cuts to the core what mindsets and skills are necessary to professionally and socially make one’s way in the 21st century…”

“Richard Florida … best-selling author and guru of the ‘creative class,’”

“International diplomats, government leaders, filmmakers, economic development organizations and leading Fortune 100 businesses have benefited from his global approachto problem-solving and strategy development.  ‘”

“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.”

“…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.”

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’…”

“Bill O’Neill, chairman of the Economic Development Council…described Florida as the ‘leading light’ of creativity”

“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.”

“I have been a fan of Richard’s thought leadership for quite a while.”

“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.”

“Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper has long been a fan of Florida’s.”

“…we are strong supporters of your work…”

“…Richard Florida, the ‘Creative Economy’ guru…”

“The lecture was truly outstanding.”

“Richard speaks about cities very brilliantly.”

“I am a fan of Richard Florida and have been following his work for the last three decades.”

“Florida, who is considered one of the world’s leading intellectuals, is the author behind the best-seller ‘The Rise of the Creative Class’…”

“Richard Florida is the pioneering figure in urban creative theory.”

“…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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“…gurus like Richard Florida, who has popularized the idea of the “creative class”…”

“…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 .”

“…the government will take the advice of economist Dr. Richard Florida whose studies noted the more-creative mega-regions are the more prosperous.”

“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.”

“Richard was amazing! Columbia College was overjoyed with the reception he received, and completely overwhelmed with how wonderful he was.”

“…Richard Florida, educator, researcher, global best selling author, sought after speaker, and noted urban theorist…is among the foremost experts in economy building.”

“Richard Florida is a phenomenon… there is no academic quite like him…”

“Richard Florida is a one-man think tank and go-to guru for companies in need of a creative jolt.”

“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…”

“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 …”

“…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.”

“Richard Florida has provided extraordinary insight into one of the most poorly understood problems facing the international community today.”

“Richard Florida sounds a wake-up call for companies that thrive on the creativity of their employees, customers, and communities.”

“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.”

“…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.”

“The launch of Markham’s Economic Strategy was a huge success, thanks in no small measure to Richard’s remarkable speech.”

“I wanted you to know how much I appreciated your presentation at the League of CA Cities Conference. It was excellent.”

“Richard’s presentation was fantastic…”

“…it was very impressive to see how the audience was fascinated by his energetic speech.”

“We have heard nothing but positive feedback about Richard’s speech. He really inspired our audience!”

“…thanks to Richard for such a great event. Our guests have been just raving about Richard-we will definitely need to invite him back.”

“…Dr. Richard Florida, widely regarded as one of the most influential scholars on the shift to the new knowledge economy…”

“… your speech was inspiring and motivational.”

“Richard Florida can be counted among the great prophets of our age.”

“…world leader in urban thinking …”

“Florida is a witty and entertaining writer…”

“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.”

“… HITACHI Technology Forum was a big success. It was a great speech by Dr. Florida with a full audience…”

“…Richard Florida, one of the best-known writers about the creative economy…”

“…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…”

“Richard Florida, the ‘creative class’ guru…”

“Richard Florida, an expert on social and economic trends…”

“Thanks to Richard our Fresno event was a huge success! Richard’s presentation was certainly a successful showcase event for our national conference. We have received rave reviews. More importantly, the presentation has been the catalyst for many engaging conversations among the presidents and community leaders.”

“The government’s new guru.”

“Florida is in fact a true visionary…you get to learn every time you’re with him.”

“Richard Florida, one of the world’s leading intellectuals on economic competitiveness…”

“Top 10 Economists on Twitter”

“…’the Bono of urban philosophers’…”

“Fast Company Leadership Hall of Fame”

Honorary Degree from Niagara University

Honorary degree from Columbus College of Art and Design

Named one of Design Futures Council 2011 Senior Fellows

“…Richard Florida, one of the world’s leading public intellectuals on economic competitiveness…”

“The ERSA conference …has been a success. This result could not have been achieved without your participation and commitment with the European Regional Science Association and the Local Organizing Committee.”

“Notwithstanding all that Democratic intellectuals such as Richard Florida have written about the party’s future lying with sophisticated knowledge workers, these people fall outside the president’s field of vision.”

“I am absolutely confident that your presentation was not only a rich source of new and valuable information, but that it sparked a great many interesting conversations and thoughts…”

“…he forever shifted the lens through which we see the tectonic shifts in our economy and society.”

“…urban development guru…”

“He is a truly brilliant social scientist and great thinker.”

“RICHARD FLORIDA… is a renowned academic and urban guru. ”

“For policymakers and city planners in Australia and elsewhere, Florida’s work seemed to be a blueprint for urban regeneration and smart, sustainable industries. ”

“…to his legions of acolytes, Florida has been the prophet and standard-bearer of an undeniable urban turnaround…”

One of the world’s top professors in their Twitter writing about leadership, innovation and strategy.

“Since publishing his best-selling book on the creative class 10 years ago, Richard Florida has become the most sought-after expert on economic development in the country — and with good reason.”

“I routinely hear Richard Florida’s name invoked today by area business leaders trying to raise the economic (and education) bar.”

“Richard Florida has become a household name in urbanist circles…His ideas about the creative economies of urban places has changed the way many leaders think about economic development and human capital.”

Top 20 Leaders in Urbanization

”Professsor Richard’s speech was excellent, Richard’s super fans and scholars from Chinese creative industry especially enjoyed it. We are so honoured to invite Prof. Richard to this event as his presence contributed a lot to our success.”

”Outstanding from Richard Florida.”

”Richard is truly a visionary and his message and concepts are so important to all of us.”

”…Richard Florida…guru when it comes to all things urban and creative…”

”…world-renowned urban studies expert Richard Florida.”

“Richard Florida is one of the most widely-read urban theorists…”

“Richard Florida, the brilliant creator of the concept of the creative class…”

“Thank you so much for bringing your world class expertise and perspective to the 2013 Detroit Policy Conference.  Your passionate keynote session kicked off the Conference with a positive outlook that energized the rest of the day.”

“Your presentation was very thought-provoking and is part of a continuing dialogue we are having with the utilities industry regarding their evolving role in urban infrastructure.”