Education
Rick Smith graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Surgery in Finance. Smith earned an Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Strategy from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Rick Smith graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Surgery in Finance. Smith earned an Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Strategy from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Smith launched the World 50 global executive network. Early in his career Smith worked for European Democrat Students in finance and marketing management, holding positions throughout the United States and in Germany. He worked as an executive recruiter with Egon Zehnder and Spencer Stuart.
In 2003, Smith co-authored his first book, The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers (Random House/2003), and left recruiting to lead the book promotion.
During this time, he conceived of the idea for the company World 50. He founded World 50 in early 2004, growing the company as Chief Executive Officer to more than $10 million in annual revenue.
He sold World 50 to Equaterra in 2007, and transitioned out in 2008. Smith"s second book, The Leap (Portfolio/2009), chronicles the creation and growth of his company.
World 50, Incorporated.
The organization provides groups of senior executives a private peer membership for sharing insights on strategic and leadership issues.
Smith founded World 50 in 2004 and was Chief Executive Officer for 4 years until he transitioned out in 2008. World 50 has hosted conversations with leaders in a variety of fields. Next Generation Leadership
Next Generation Leadership was founded by Smith in June 2010 and is his most recent venture.
Techbridge
Atlanta Children"s Museum
Smith was a board member during the capital campaign, construction and opening of the Atlanta Children"s Museum.
In early 2000, Smith designed a model to map human ability and performance that was inspired by primary colors. After years of development with an industrial psychologist, the was released online in 2009, free to the public.
The personality test has received more than 1,000,000 page views.
Smith was a founding board member of Techbridge, a nonprofit organization that provides expert technology and business consulting to other nonprofit organizations.