Shiver Showcase- Steve Grove

Steve Grove is a visionary community leader and bolstering force in Minnesota’s civic and media landscape. As the current CEO and Publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune, he drives the transformation of local news into a digitally centered, impact-oriented institution. Previously, Grove served with distinction under Governor Tim Walz as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, where he championed workforce equity, small-business growth, and pandemic‑era support. 

 

Before returning home, Grove spent over a decade in Silicon Valley as a senior executive with Google and YouTube —founding Google News Lab, building YouTube’s inaugural “news & politics” team, and launching civic engagement initiatives to support voter information and media innovation. A Claremont McKenna graduate with a master’s degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School, he began his career in journalism at the Boston Globe, ABC News, and his hometown Northfield News.

 

Grove and his wife Mary co‑founded Silicon North Stars, a nonprofit enriching tech career pathways for underserved Minnesota youth. He is driven by a profound purpose: bridging the power of digital innovation, community collaboration, and inclusive storytelling to uplift local voices and foster meaningful impact.

 

Steve recently authored the reflective and personal book, I Found Myself in the Midwest , exploring identity, belonging, and the power of place.