Miami's Tech Future (Abridged): Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Leadership Challenges

By the middle of the 1990s, Miami’s reputation was changing. An influx of Spanish-speaking immigrants and major investments in the airport and seaport had changed the image of a sleepy southern city to the de facto business center of Latin America, a center for commerce connecting the Americas. But going into the millennium, Miami and South Florida were still known primarily as seasonal tourist destinations, with all the economic and occupational challenges that entailed. Then, between 2000 and 2010, an activist Miami mayor, Manny Diaz, and a handful of civic leaders including foundation heads, undertook investments that began a significant transformation, improving Miami’s economy and quality of life, making residents feel that it was more than a region for tourists. The question in 2011 was what needed to be done to further the transformation, especially in light of fears about what new technology would mean for jobs. What should be the theme or main focus? Who should lead change? This case series begins with data on the situation in 2000, discusses progress between 2000 and 2010, and identifies a possible new regional initiative that is just an idea in 2011. Is it the right direction? And what would it take to have impact on Miami’s future?