Meet the WIDI Team: Mikaela Becker, WIDI Co-Affiliate Director and Interim Northwest Regional Director

At Wisconsin Destination Imagination (WIDI), our success is powered by the incredible people who dedicate their time, talents, and creativity to supporting students across the state. From coordinating tournaments to training Team Managers and ensuring that every team has the resources they need, our affiliate-level staff and volunteers are here to make sure our program participants have what they need to succeed.

We’re excited to introduce you to the passionate individuals who make it all possible—each one committed to inspiring curiosity, collaboration, and innovation in Wisconsin’s next generation of problem solvers.

How did you get started in DI? I started DI in the 4th grade as a team member, and continued to participate through my Senior year! During college (in Alabama), I volunteered as an Appraiser and a Team Manager. When I moved back to Wisconsin in 2017, I took on the role of Regional Challenge Master and then served as the Alumni Relations Coordinator, a Board Member, an interim Regional Director, and the Affiliate Tournament Director.

What do you do for DI now? I'm excited to step into the role of Co-Affiliate Director alongside Mary (Bykowski) for this season, to learn the ropes from the expert! In many respects, this is a full circle moment, as Mary (and her husband Dave) were my Team Managers in both Middle and High School, and now we're leading WIDI together! I will also continue to serve as the interim Regional Director for the Northwest Region.

Why do you continue to support the program? When I first started volunteering in College, it was because I recognized the value the program brought to my life and my success, and wanted to give back to support the next generation. Today, I continue to support the program for that reason, but also because DI is my happy place- where I can turn off the outside world and focus on the incredible creations and journeys of our team members. The DI community is incredibly diverse, incredibly welcoming, and teaches all of us important life lessons along the way.

What have you done or what are you doing in your professional life? I recently accepted a promotion to Director of Prevention Research at Vivent Health, a national organization focused on HIV care and prevention.

What DI skills do you use in your everyday life? People talk about learning "lifelong sports" like golf - in DI you learn "lifelong skills", as life is one giant creative problem-solving project after another! There are so many skills I use every day that I learned in DI, but I think perhaps the most important one I use daily is the ability to think "outside the box" to overcome barriers. I notice that when I encounter a barrier or challenge, I immediately jump into problem-solving my way around it, where others see it as a stopping point. I've also heard this from other Alumni - DI trains you to think differently, to not be afraid to iterate and potentially even fail, so that you can get to success!

Thank you, Mikaela, for your continued support of Destination Imagination!