Dr. Raphael Bostic

The first Black president of a regional Federal Reserve Bank, Dr. Raphael Bostic made history when he became the 15th president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in 2017. Over nearly nine years in the role, he helped guide monetary policy through some of the most significant economic shifts in recent history, from the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath to a historic surge in inflation and a new era of interest rate policy. Bostic also served on the Federal Open Market Committee, where he played a central role in deliberations over policies influencing the direction of the U.S. economy.

Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Dr. Bostic brings the inner workings of the Federal Reserve into focus, offering a clear-eyed outlook on the U.S. economy and what its direction means for business. Known for his conversational style and ability to make economics accessible, Bostic puts even the most complicated issues into terms audiences can relate to. Moving beyond today’s headlines, his talks explore the forces influencing interest rates and the outlook for economic growth, helping audiences make sense of current conditions and understand how to prepare for what’s next.

Before taking the helm of the Atlanta Fed, Bostic helped direct federal housing and community development policy as the Senate-confirmed assistant secretary for policy development and research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. From 2009 to 2012, he led a 150-person interdisciplinary team responsible for the research and analysis informing the department’s policy decisions, bringing his economic expertise to issues affecting communities across the country.

Previously, at the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy, Dr. Bostic spent 16 years advancing research in real estate economics and public policy. He served as founding director of the Casden Real Estate Economics Forecast and chaired both the Governance, Management and Policy Process Department and the Bedrosian Center on Governance. Beyond his work at USC, Bostic has contributed to the field through research published in leading economics, public policy, and planning journals.

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