Dr. Richie Karaburun is a celebrated educator, entrepreneur, and mentor at NYU’s School of Professional Studies. As Director of the Hospitality Innovation Hub Incubator, he empowers the next generation of industry changemakers. With this book, Dr. K brings his sought-after guidance beyond the classroom—into your hands.
Dr. Recep “Richie” Karaburun—known to his students as “Dr. K”—is a Clinical Associate Professor at the NYU School of Professional Studies, Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism. With over 20 years of global leadership experience in the travel and hospitality industry, Dr. Karaburun brings real-world insight into every classroom and keynote stage he steps onto.
He holds a Doctorate in Professional Studies, concentration in Marketing, from Pace University’s Lubin School of Business, an MBA from Chapman University, and a BBA in International Relations from Uludag University in Turkiye.
At NYU, Dr. K teaches courses on hospitality innovation, strategic brand management, destination branding, hospitality trends, and business fundamentals. He has received multiple teaching awards, including the NYU SPS Excellence in Teaching Awards and, most recently, the NYU Distinguished Teaching Award—one of the university’s highest faculty honors.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Karaburun is the Director of the Tisch Center’s Innovation Hub Incubator, where he mentors the next generation of hospitality entrepreneurs and changemakers. His career has included leadership roles at Roomer, RADIUS, GTA North America, and American Tours International—driving strategy, growth, and innovation across global markets.
His research explores topics such as service culture, social media influence, hotel distribution, and digital customer experience. His insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Skift, Reuters, Hotel News Now, PhocusWire, and more. He’s also a regular contributor to
hospitality media and an invited speaker at conferences around the world, from CES in Las Vegas to HVS/ANAROCK in India.
In 2023, Dr. Karaburun was named one of the Top 30 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute.
Whether he's guiding students, mentoring startups, or writing about grit and growth, Dr. K is passionate about helping others realize their potential—and persevere.
