u003cspan data-contrast=u0022autou0022u003eRichard Florida is the world’s leading urbanist and international best-selling author of u0022Rise of the Creative Class.u0022 He is the founder of the Creative Class Group, advising companies such as BMW, Audi, Starwood Hotels, Facebook, Instagram, Converse, Microsoft, and several others.u003c/spanu003eu003cspan data-ccp-props=u0022{u0026quot;201341983u0026quot;:0,u0026quot;335559739u0026quot;:160,u0026quot;335559740u0026quot;:259}u0022u003e u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan data-contrast=u0022autou0022u003eFlorida is a pioneering researcher and University Professor at the University of Toronto. He is co-founder of now Bloomberg’s CityLab, the leading publication devoted to cities and urbanism.u003c/spanu003eu003cspan data-ccp-props=u0022{u0026quot;201341983u0026quot;:0,u0026quot;335559739u0026quot;:160,u0026quot;335559740u0026quot;:259}u0022u003e u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan data-contrast=u0022autou0022u003eFlorida serves on the boards of leading real estate, urban innovation, and venture capital firms across the globe.u003c/spanu003eu003cspan data-ccp-props=u0022{u0026quot;201341983u0026quot;:0,u0026quot;335559739u0026quot;:160,u0026quot;335559740u0026quot;:259}u0022u003e u003c/spanu003e