Why Blue Dot?

A Note From Our Founder, Lindsay Levin

Dear friends,

When astrophysicist Carl Sagan first saw images of our solar system taken by the Voyager 1 space probe in 1990 he described the Earth as appearing like “a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.”

Sagan later wrote—

“There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”

“Pale Blue Dot” taken on February 14, 1990, by the Voyager 1 Space Probe

I have been fascinated by stories about our place in the universe since childhood, finding comfort in how tiny we are and just how magnificent everything around us is.

This sense of wonder has shaped my life. From backpacking at every opportunity in my teens and twenties, to an early career in business, to founding Leaders’ Quest in 2001, where I worked with an awesome team to seek out people who are shaping the world around them, often in the toughest of circumstances.

Many things stood out – from the tenacity of countless ‘invisible giants’ who are building a brighter future, to the damage we humans are doing to the Earth. 

These experiences inspired us to team up with TED and a small band of visionaries in 2019 to create TED Countdown – a global initiative to accelerate and amplify solutions to the climate crisis.

It’s a Collective – a core team eager to tap into many wonderful relationships forged over the years, and amplify the strengths of people and organizations who are doing great work. To model the kind of radical collaboration that we need much more of.

Our work includes my role as Head of TED Countdown and partnering with Leaders’ Quest on select projects. We are also supporting Uniting for a Shared Future, a coalition of diverse Israeli and Palestinian leaders who are working to find common ground for a just and peaceful future. They are incredible people whose vision, courage and hard work restores our faith in shared humanity. 

Blue Dot brings together people I love, lessons we’ve learned, ideas that matter, and a restless energy to, in Sagan’s words, “build a kinder world on the only home we have.”

–Lindsay Levin

October 2024

Meet the Team

  • Lindsay Levin

    FOUNDER

    Lindsay is a serial entrepreneur in the profit and not for profit space. She spent two decades building UK based companies across several industries, and became known for her focus on leadership and people-focused cultures. 

    Lindsay founded Leaders’ Quest in 2001, to immerse leaders in the forces shaping the future through ‘Quests’ to different parts of the world. Together with an exceptional team she led hundreds of programs across India, China, North and South America, Europe and the Middle East. In 2004 she created the LQ Foundation to provide leadership training for thousands of people in marginalized communities across Asia and Africa. In 2020 she co-founded TED Countdown with TED — a global initiative to amplify and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. 

    Today she leads the TED Countdown initiative, chairs Leaders’ Quest and works on a small number of targeted initiatives where she feels she can make a meaningful difference. The common thread is how we develop connection and compassion to address some of humanity’s big problems. Lindsay lives in New York City with her husband David. They have three wonderful sons, a daughter-in-law and grandson all based in the US.  

  • Julie Dickman

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Julie is a young peacebuilder with a wealth of diverse experience from across the globe. Her work and ethos are driven by her deep commitment to social justice and the Jewish value of tikkun olam—repairing the world.

    She has led sustainable fashion and women-centered initiatives in Benin, assisted security practitioners in researching violent extremism, and has written extensively on West African geopolitics. Among her leadership roles, Julie curated TEDxLuiss during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. She also supported communications and engagements of a Palestinian nonviolent movement amidst the ongoing conflict in the region.

    Julie grew up in Rome, Italy, and is now based in Washington, DC. She recently joined Blue Dot Collective as Chief of Staff, where she brings her experience and continues to explore solutions to the world’s biggest crises. 

  • Mei Gong

    EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

    Mei is the Executive Assistant to Lindsay Levin at Blue Dot Collective, based in New York City.

    She supports operations across various areas, managing systems, IT, and budgets, while also ensuring the team’s wellbeing. With over 30 years of experience assisting C-level executives in start-ups, Mei brings a wealth of operational expertise.

    A native New Yorker, she enjoys exploring the city, discovering new restaurants, and camping with her family in the Catskill Mountains.