July 24th, 2025
MANKATO – Greater Mankato Growth is pleased to host Steve Grove, CEO and Publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune, for a discussion of his new memoir, “How I Found Myself in the Midwest,” on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
“We are pleased to welcome Steve Grove to Mankato for an engaging conversation that explores Steve’s personal journey, his reflections on the Midwest’s unique identity, and what it means to find purpose and community in our region,” said Andy Wilke, Executive Vice President, Greater Mankato Growth. “We also look forward to discussing the current state of legacy media companies like the Star Tribune and how Steve is shaping the future of the newspaper with the largest newsroom in the upper Midwest.”
This event will take place from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the new Maverick Innovation Gateway, Powered by Nidec, at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and will include a discussion moderated by Andy Wilke of Greater Mankato Growth, Q&A for attendees, and a book signing with Steve.
The event is free to the public; registration is requested online at www.greatermankato.com.
Copies of “How I Found Myself in the Midwest” will be available for purchase on site, courtesy of the Maverick Shop, the official bookstore of Minnesota State University, Mankato.
This event is part of the GMG Advocacy Forum Series, which seeks to bring together compelling speakers and business leaders to discuss timely and relevant economic, political, and policy issues that affect our regional marketplace.
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About the book
Just after turning forty, Steve Grove left Silicon Valley as a Google executive to move to his home state of Minnesota with his wife and fellow tech exec, Mary Grove, and their one-year-old twins. Gone from the Midwest for two decades, Grove returned home with fresh eyes. Yearning to put down new roots, he traded his career at Google for a position in state government with Governor Tim Walz. Far from working at a fast-paced tech company, Grove’s shift to leading a large government bureaucracy brought a sequence of struggles and triumphs vividly portrayed with both humor and affection. Along the way, Grove shares insights about a part of the country that many people ignore at their peril, and why he is optimistic about America’s future. How I Found Myself in the Midwest will move and inspire you, no matter where you choose to call home.
About Steve Grove
Steve Grove is CEO and publisher of The Minnesota Star Tribune. Previously, he was Minnesota’s commissioner of employment and economic development. Before moving back to his home state, Grove built a career in Silicon Valley as an executive at Google and YouTube, most recently as the founding director of the Google News Lab and previously as YouTube’s first head of news and politics. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, Grove also worked as a journalist for The Boston Globe, ABC News, and the Northfield News, his hometown newspaper, and has served as an advisor to the White House and State Department on counterterrorism strategy. Steve and his wife Mary are the cofounders of Silicon North Stars, a nonprofit that helps underserved youth find career pathways in technology. They are the proud parents of eight-year-old twins, a yellow lab, and two farm cats. For more information visit, stevegrove.com.
About Greater Mankato Growth
Greater Mankato Growth is the regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization with more than 900 members. Our mission is to support and promote the economic growth and vitality of our members and the regional marketplace through business growth and development, talent growth, retention, and attraction, regional livability, and advocacy of the marketplace.
About the Maverick Innovation Gateway
This facility is part of a new interdisciplinary initiative designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and hands-on learning. This vibrant ecosystem brings students, faculty, and industry leaders together to solve real-world challenges, build future-ready skills, and shape tomorrow’s workforce.