RISING ICON #88: Kenzie O’Keefe
What name do you prefer to be called?
Kenzie O’Keefe
What are your pronouns?
She/her
Where did you grow up?
Saint Paul, MN
What city are you currently based in?
Saint Paul, MN
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
I lead ThreeSixty Journalism, and my life’s work is to support storytelling that creates connection and justice.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I live in a multigenerational home, and I’m grounded in my identities as a wife to a wife, mom of two, daughter, sister, and aunt.
Who do you help?
I help high school students discover a love of storytelling, the media industry to evolve more equitably, and the general public to understand youth takes on topical issues.
What are you building now?
ThreeSixty Journalism’s next chapter. The journalism program has roots that extend back to the 1970. My goal is to honor that history while meeting the demands and opportunities of the future.
What were you building ten years ago today?
I had just landed a job as editor and publisher of North News in North Minneapolis and was beginning the journey of relaunching it as a print paper, digital news source and youth journalism training program with Pillsbury United Communities, North High School, and other Northside community members. Our vision was a news source that reflected community as community saw itself—connected, creative, and capable.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
I have no idea! The great beauty of my life has been working hard, trying to make the next right choice, and letting the future unfold. I’m constantly humbled by the unexpected opportunities, joys and griefs life offers.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
Journalism is still an overwhelmingly white industry.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
Democracy depends on an informed public. The ways people consume media has changed drastically in the last 15 years, and the historic business model for journalism has collapsed. It’s essential, existential, and exciting to work with young people to architect the future of the information ecosystem.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
My dad, Michael O’Keefe. He died in 2020, but he left me with great advice that guides me to this day. An example: work hard and bring a good attitude, and everyone will want to work with you.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
These audio stories produced by high school students this summer during ThreeSixty’s annual radio camp partnership with Minnesota Public Radio News, MIGIZI, and KRSM Radio. They are technically about the Ordway, but they get at some deep truths about being human.
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
I’d like to see ThreeSixty students capture national attention with a byline in the New York Times. More locally, I can wait to see student work in the relaunched Minnesota Star Tribune!
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Esther Wojcicki or my favorite local author, Mona Susan Power.
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
“We can’t keep working like this: what I’ve learned from Gen Z about having healthy boundaries with work.”
What award would mean the most to win?
A ThreeSixty student winning a Pulitzer for their reporting.
What makes zero sense to you?
The number of high schools in Minnesota that don’t have robust student media programs.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
“Diverse” when used as an adjective to describe a single person who isn’t white.
What game are you changing?
Journalism—what it is, who gets to practice it, and how it’s done.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Press Forward MN, a national funding initiative to invest in a stronger democracy through local news. I’m on the local host committee here in Minnesota.
Where can we follow you online?
Professional: LinkedIn
Personal: Instagram
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Listening more.
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Kenzie, for sharing your story!
LAUREL is a media relations partner for bold leadership. For nearly a decade, we’ve helped leaders build effective strategies for scale and growth specializing in key opinion leadership and go-to-market strategy for emerging brands. To follow along with the RISING ICONS series, nominate a leader or subscribe to our weekly email newsletter. To accelerate your own rise, get our free guide to elevating your leadership profile, FIT(lite). RISING ICONS is made possible by grant funding from Knight Foundation.
“The great beauty of my life has been working hard, trying to make the next right choice, and letting the future unfold. I’m constantly humbled by the unexpected opportunities, joys and griefs life offers.”
Notice: It’s important for our readers to understand the origin of the interview content. The featured ICON contributed responses that were not edited from the original submission. All claims are made solely by the contributor and do not reflect the views of LAUREL or its partners. Thank you for supporting innovation leaders. We’re convinced, the future is bold.
