As a newly minted attorney at a busy Minneapolis, Minnesota, law firm at the height of the pandemic, and one of the only women attorneys in the office, Anne St. Amant often felt like she was going it alone. She loved her job and the firm but longed to connect with others who could help her navigate the challenges women face in the workplace. She talked to her female friends outside of work, which was helpful. She also discovered “The Broad Experience” podcast, which tackled work-related issues. Still, she yearned for in-person connections with other professional women, and not just lawyers.

The realization that what she was looking for didn’t exist inspired Anne to come up with the original concept for The Dot—a supportive community connecting professional women growing their careers. While she created a logo and a website for The Dot, Anne struggled to find the bandwidth to get it off the ground.

A year later, Rachel Kurth joined the same Minneapolis firm and the two instantly formed a bond. When Anne experienced blowback related to a high-profile case she’d been working on, Rachel helped her get through it. They wanted to empower other women to build similar connections and a network of support, so they revisited Anne’s idea and co-founded The Dot as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. When more than 40 women attended their first gathering in February of 2022, they knew they were on to something.

The Dot is different from many traditional networking groups in that it aims to help members create authentic connections, which Rachel and Anne believe is foundational to success. Another key difference is The Dot’s casual approach. For example, there’s no pressure to dress a certain way. Attendees are encouraged to wear what they would for an ideal day of work—a vintage blazer or their favorite pair of jeans—whatever makes them feel good.

“One of our core values is inclusivity,” Anne said. “When women of all ages and races, and from all industries and career stages, gather and share different perspectives, we learn so much from each other.”

Events take place at venues that tend to be less formal, where women feel comfortable showing up as their genuine selves. Important issues are addressed at events like “Speak Up” public speaking workshops and “Trailblazers and Changemakers” panel discussions, which derive from current conversations The Dot’s board members are having. But the focus goes beyond work and professional topics. The Dot also facilitates broader conversations that include personal interests and life experiences.

Over the past three years, The Dot has served thousands of women. Anne and Rachel co-lead the organization—while continuing to work as full-time attorneys—along with a working board. Additionally, The Dot welcomes a new group of dedicated ambassadors each year who are instrumental in welcoming members, launching new initiatives and hosting events. Ambassadors are considered “influencers” for The Dot—role models who demonstrate the many ways to be well-rounded working women in the Twin Cities. They also share expertise and advice via “The Coffee Talk Blog,” which covers professional and personal topics and is part of The Dot’s commitment to supporting women.

Anne and Rachel say one of the keys to the organization’s success is its ambassador program, which helps bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table.

“We want to make sure The Dot represents the community and the real workforce that is women,” Rachel said. “Welcoming a new class of ambassadors every year helps that mission tenfold.”

With the support of 11 sponsors, The Dot hosted 10 events for 621 members in 2025. The founders are committed to adapting and exploring new ways to expand the organization’s presence and capacity to best serve the needs of the community. In the coming year, The Dot will continue connecting women through unique programming like its “Signature Event” celebrating new ambassadors, its “Trailblazers and Changemakers” series, plus additional events and activities to be announced. Its online platform will continue tackling important topics that affect working women in the Twin Cities.

To learn more about Anne and Rachel’s nonprofit, visit www.thedottwincities.com and follow @thedottwincities on Instagram.

Photo: Rachel Kurth (left) and Anne St. Amant (right), The Dot Twin Cities