Last week, you heard from our organizer, Star, about the philosophical engine and deeply personal motivation behind TEDxDuluth. This week, we sat down with co-organizer Kadie to move from vision to reality, discussing the intense logistics, the crucial role of the Duluth community, and the personal reward of seeing an idea brought to life.

Kadie is the digital architect and administrative backbone of the event, ensuring that every speaker, ticket, and schedule detail aligns perfectly with the big-picture goals.

(You can find the full audio recording of this interview available with this Link to the Audio File.)

Part I: The Co-Organizer’s Role: Vision Meets Reality

While Star is the visionary – the CEO and dreamer – Kadie is the administrative force that makes the vision executable. She defines her role as the necessary check on ambition.

“Star is really the face of things that are going on, like going to our conferences and spreading the word. Whereas I’m more of that community-focused person where I’m making sure that our scope is within the community, and like when we’re planning the event, what that kind of looks like – more like administratively to have a successful event.”

Kadie’s background coordinating large-scale events at Duluth’s Glensheen Mansion taught her that a smooth event requires meticulous start-to-finish planning, from the initial inquiry to the final cleanup. She brings that critical, realistic perspective to TEDxDuluth.

“I kind of like to say, I’m the ‘Dream Killer’, but sometimes, like there’s a lot of things going on and I’m like, do we have the capacity to do that? Because Star has so many good ideas.”

Her job is to bridge the creative ideas to the concrete constraints: venue capacity, budget, and the sheer labor required. She is the essential voice ensuring the experience you get on February 6th, 2026, is flawless and focused.

Part II: The Community Connection: Why Duluth?

Kadie highlights that TEDxDuluth is designed not just to take place in Duluth, but to celebrate and elevate the region. The decision to host on a Friday is intentional:

“It’s to give people that time to maybe stay the whole weekend and explore and see what Duluth has to offer, because not only are the views incredible, but the people are really great too.”

The team recognizes that many attendees – even those from the Twin Cities area – have never fully experienced the vibrant culture, art, and natural attractions of the Northland. The event is positioned as a gateway to Duluth.

Bridging the Personal and Professional: The event itself reflects the concept Kadie learned during her Rotary International Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference work: people are seeking something beyond their daily routine.

“You know, [extracurriculars and/or sports] are your whole life growing up, and you’re going to take out of that what was meaningful to you, what do you want to continue to do?”

TEDxDuluth offers that opportunity: It’s a dedicated day to step away from the daily grind and reflect on where they want their lives and careers to go next.

The Power of the Idea (and the Lollipop)

The ultimate goal, Kadie explains, is the ripple effect – the tiny moments of connection and insight that have massive long-term impact. She shared a well-known TED Talk story that embodies this power:

“It’s essentially titled ‘Lollipop Moment’ [Drew Dudley TEDxToronto: Leading with Lollipops] and it kind of puts into perspective where we’re like really into our autopilot and we’re just doing our jobs… but this girl essentially had a [stranger] hand her a lollipop and he made a funny joke, and her and the guy ended up getting married.” The speaker was invited to their wedding, and he doesn’t remember this life-changing moment for the two other people involved.

The point is, you never know which piece of information or which small interaction at TEDxDuluth will change a life or launch a career. That single moment – that powerful idea – is why the effort is worth it.

Part III: The Final Push – Your Chance to Join the Effort

With the vision established by Star and the logistical planning led by Kadie, TEDxDuluth is now entering the final, crucial stage of activation. This event is built by volunteers, and its success is dependent on the community’s participation.

Kadie, who has been volunteering and leading community projects since high school, reinforces that giving back is its own reward.

“I just, I’m not really doing it for any reason other than, I’m like, this is really cool and I’m growing my skills, but also other people get to benefit from it.”

The Call to Action is Now:

• Tickets are Launching Soon: You have heard the mission, the philosophy, and the commitment of the two organizers. The time to guarantee your seat is here.
• The Power of Serendipity: Come to the event ready to engage – to find your lollipop moment, meet your next collaborator, and discover the idea that sparks your transformation.

Listen to the Full Interview

For more insights into Kadie’s perspective on event planning and community building, listen to the complete audio: [LINK TO AUDIO FILE]

The Ultimate Reminder

As Kadie shared, we are often trained to constantly look ahead, but great moments happen when we pause and focus on the now:

“Enjoying the moment that you’re in… The future will be there. What can you control right now?”

Invest your time in the present and join us on February 6th, 2026!