Known for its engaging content and captivating interviews of outstanding business leaders, The CIO Leaders magazine is pleased to feature Richard Larson, Professor at MIT, who unfolded his professional journey reflecting resilience, empathy and dedication.
Having spent thirty years of professional life in research, academia, and innovation, he has never stopped attempting to advance frontiers of knowledge and inspiring his environment to do so. From leading the way in creating advances in queueing theory and operations research to shaping current designs in education and decision science, his efforts have left indelible marks in theoretical as well as application domains. A student first of all, he never thought of education as an end in itself, a mere moneymaker, one limited to university borders and beyond but also in life. His endeavors were always supported by the steadfast dedication of his late wife, Mary Elizabeth Murray (“Liz”), whose collaboration was at the heart of their common vision of greater access to high-quality education. From giving talks at global conferences to creating new models of education or mentoring up-and-coming researchers, Richard has consistently been committed to mental exploration and societal progress.
Even at retirement, his interest in MODEL-Based Thinking and teaching never wavered, showing learning is not just a phase but a mentality. His enthusiasm for learning was heightened, pushing him to study for postgraduate and eventually a PhD in Operations Research. Larson’s academic highlight was interacting with students, both in lectures and research guidance. He was greatly proud of watching his students explore the boundaries of knowledge, making meaningful contributions to their fields, and succeeding greatly in their professional lives.
While still retired from active teaching and advising, Larson is as actively engaged in intellectual discussion and public debate as ever. His energies are now devoted to bringing the highly technical concept itself into everyday language, something that he accomplishes through his book, MODEL THINKING For Everyday Life. Here, he recapitulates his belief that good decision-making and problem-solving depend on comprehending conceptual and exemplary models. He hopes to empower human beings to think more wisely, be good at solving problems, and make good decisions in everyday life.
