.237 Liz Tornheim

In the summer of 2014, I interned at TED with the incomparable Liz — and thank goodness for that. Every moment of every day with her was engaging, laughter-filled, and left me learning so much about the world and myself. She’s just so incredibly intelligent and presents herself in such an inviting and empathetic way. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better partner-in-crime for those formative months.

When we started that internship journey, I remember being struck by how different we were, which in many ways is why I think we connected so well. Her brain was constantly inspiring me to think through things a bit differently, and her perspective was always helpful, smart, and thoughtful. She’s one of the best listeners and was constantly impressing me with her ability to think strategically and creatively. On top of all of this, Liz was truly kind to me and everyone else that she interacted with. It seems deep in her nature to be compassionate and genuinely sweet to those around her, and that positive and nurturing energy is one of my favorite parts about her.

Liz, thank you for always making me laugh and for dealing with my wacky jokes and stories. Thank you for pushing and encouraging me when I needed it most, and thank you for always listening. Thank you for your infectious smile and personality, and thank you for being such an amazing teammate. Thank you for our outrageously fun time at Joe’s Pub for that event, and of course for that even better photograph. Thank you for being there for me to talk with, laugh with, and run and get lunch with. Thank you for being someone I trust, admire, and appreciate so very much. Thank you, Liz, for being you!

-BD