Randolph-Macon College
Connecting the Dots: Lauren Cox Sweeney ’10

Solving branding challenges is the name of the game for Dotted Line Collaborations, a Richmond-based boutique marketing firm run by Randolph-Macon College alum Lauren Sweeney. The 2010 graduate is one of 30 finalists for the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows program, which gives female business owners guidance and skills for further success.

Since founding Dotted Line Collaborations in 2013, Sweeney and her mostly female staff have “focused on changing the world of advertising.” Dotted Line Collaborations offers project-based marketing solutions that include branding, advertising, public relations and social media, Sweeney said.

The business and economics major also minored in studio art and art history, which she incorporated into Dotted Line Collaborations. Sweeney said her time at R-MC helped her become the successful business owner she is today.

“[Attending R-MC] allows you to try a lot of different things and have exposure to different things,” Sweeney said. “That mixed with the tight alumni group really set me up for success.”

Tory Burch, whose fashion empire has landed her on the Forbes list of the World’s 100 Most Influential Women several times, created her foundation in 2009 to support women entrepreneurs.

“It’s awesome that [Burch] feels so passionate about helping fellow women entrepreneurs,” Sweeney said. “A lot of things the foundation talks about we feel is very important.”

Voting for the top 10 finalists is open online until April 14. These 10 women will be part of a yearlong fellowship and have access to mentorship from C-Suite female executives, and spend time under Tory Burch’s guidance in New York.

The top 10 finalists will also receive a $10,000 education grant to further their business, and have the opportunity to pitch their business before Burch and a panel for a $100,000 grant investment.

“We’re very excited about this because we feel like Tory Burch would not just be investing in me and our company, but also in the Richmond community and the businesses we work with,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney said she believes one reason she and Dotted Line Collaborations were selected is because they help other businesses in the community.

“We work hard to build our clients’ businesses and brands to make an impact in our community,” she continued.

Other finalists include business owners who also help their communities, whether by working with farmers to import saffron, or building a surveyor-engineer firm.

“They’re all doing really cool, impactful things so just to be considered among one of those women is amazing,” Sweeney said.