Almost one year ago, Quadel President Katie Goar stepped onto the red circle of the TEDx stage in New York City in a moment that represented the culmination of years of encouragement, hesitation, and ultimately, a leap of courage.

For much of her career, she had kept her personal connection to homelessness and housing insecurity private, even from colleagues she’d worked alongside for decades. But TEDx offered a platform where her story could reach beyond the housing industry and help amplify the importance of affordable housing to a wider audience.

“For many years, people encouraged me to speak openly about my story and why I was so deeply committed to affordable housing,” Goar said. “After much stomping around and hesitancy, I couldn’t outrun the opportunity any longer.”

Redefining Failure

Her talk was part of a TEDx event centered on the theme Redefining Failure. On stage, Goar reframed her childhood experience with homelessness as a chapter in her story, a moment in time, and something that shaped her but did not define her.

Writing the 14-minute talk took over 20 drafts. She spent a lot of time journaling her thoughts about her personal experiences and the affordable housing industry. She used note cards and post-it notes to help memorize the speech and studied other TEDx talks to refine her cadence and body language.

“I was still nervous even with all that prep,” Goar said. “Right before I took the stage, I had to give myself a pep talk to walk out and played some Metallica to drown out any fear.”

Opening Doors

In the year since delivering her TEDx talk, the response has been powerful. Public Housing Authority (PHA) executive directors and colleagues have reached out to share their own experiences with homelessness. For many, her story has created space for conversations that had long been left unspoken.

The TEDx experience has become more than a personal milestone for Goar. It continues to serve as a catalyst for dialogue and helps to bring the message of affordable housing to audiences far beyond traditional industry settings.

“Personally,  it has reminded me that sharing my story matters. People who have known me for almost 20 years now know me in a more authentic way,” Goar said. “The shame and stigma of homelessness don’t have to silence us. Our voices shape the national conversation on housing, poverty, and resilience.”

And almost a year later, Katie’s words continue to ripple outward, reminding us that every story has the power to shift perspectives, spark conversation, and bring us closer to solutions for affordable housing.

At Quadel, we know the challenges of affordable housing aren’t abstract but they’re personal and they’re real. Contact us today at info@quadel.com to see how our experience and solutions can support your community.