Carleton Convo with Steve Grove ’00 | February 6, 2026

Steve Grove ’00 has spent his career at the intersection of politics, media, and tech. On Friday, February 6, Gove shared his experience in his convocation address, “Tech, Media, Government: The Power of Going Local to Make Change,” from 10:50 to 11:50 a.m. in Skinner Chapel. Grove has become a national voice on the power of local action to rebuild American institutions, and his talk will explore what he’s learned about strengthening technology, government, and media organizations from the inside. Grove started his career in Silicon Valley as YouTube’s first head of news and politics, as well as the founding director of the Google News Lab, which he developed to help media companies and startups drive innovation in the news industry. Grove’s move back to his home state of Minnesota sparked a shift in his career from tech to government. He served as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for Governor Tim Walz’s cabinet for four years. During his time with Walz, Grove worked to grow and protect Minnesota’s economy. He has also served as an adviser to the White House and Department of State on counterterrorism strategy. Grove became the Star Tribune’s CEO and publisher in April 2023 and is “leading the transformation of the storied Minnesota institution toward a new vision — to become the leading model for local news in America.” Grove also recently published his book, How I Found Myself in the Midwest (2025), on his experiences moving home to Minnesota and the lessons he learned along the way about local politics and putting down roots. Grove earned his bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College (after transferring from Carleton), his master’s degree from Harvard University, and his high school diploma from Northfield High School. Learn more about Carleton Convos at go.carleton.edu/convocations