Engage and Lead: A Conversation with Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan

As the 39th mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordan entered office in 1993 during a time of turmoil for the city. Still rebuilding from the riots in 1992, it wasn’t long until the next crisis showed up in the form of a major earthquake in 1994. Despite challenges like these, Riordan ended up widely considered a transformational mayor for the city. Driven by a passion to foster space for others to succeed, his visionary leadership has helped change countless lives.

On February 10, The Brookings Institution hosted Richard Riordan to discuss his experiences in leadership roles, his new book The Mayor (Post Hill Press) and his wide-ranging interests that include national security issues. Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow at Brookings, moderated the discussion.