After almost a century of modest changes, work models are now evolving at an acceler­ated pace. These are defined not only by where and how work gets done, but also by the impact of technology, a global economy, and demographic trends that could pro­duce a talent shortage if current models remain unchanged. The situation is especially acute for organizations whose success depends on innovation.

Complicating matters further are the challenges presented by climate change—economic growth can no longer come at the expense of sustainability. Cities must become not only enablers of new work models, but also thought leaders and exemplars of innovation in this area.