A career she loved. A community she wanted to serve.

Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt joins Sam McKinney for a conversation about a family decision that reshaped her life and the public responsibilities she later chose to take on.

Anne had built a high-ranking career at a Fortune 500 company in a male-dominated water industry. She loved the work and valued her advancement. Leaving full-time corporate work to be more present for her three young children was a difficult choice. She describes the adjustment, the part-time consulting she continued, and the school, coaching, and neighborhood involvement that became part of her family's life in Woodbury.

Her interest in contributing to that community grew into city commission work and, eventually, serving as mayor. Anne discusses planning how Woodbury grows, bringing her water-industry experience to infrastructure issues, and leading through COVID while crediting city staff and residents. She reflects on the responsibility of people trusting her to lead and the community giving behind Power of 100 Women, Greater Woodbury, which she cofounded with Gab Yacovella and Kelly Lindstrom.

Sam shares his own career turning point, connecting the personal choices about family and fulfillment with the practical work of contributing to the place we call home.

In this conversation

• The career Anne loved and the challenge of advancing in a male-dominated water industry.
• Her difficult decision to leave full-time corporate work and be more present for her three young children.
• How she continued consulting part time while becoming involved in schools, coaching, and neighborhood life.
• Her progression into city commissions and planning how Woodbury grows and develops.
• Her reflections on water infrastructure, residents' frustrations, and working with staff and the community through COVID.
• The trust involved in leading a city and her community work with Power of 100 Women, Greater Woodbury.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to East Side Enterprise
01:09 The St. Croix River and finding home
07:20 A career she loved and the decision to focus on family
09:20 Sam's decision to make a change
11:44 Parenting, part-time consulting, and community involvement
16:24 Time with people who matter
19:35 Chemistry, business, and a career in water
23:25 Family background and growing up with change
26:40 Volunteering, city commissions, and public service
29:30 Planning for a city across generations
34:30 Water infrastructure and residents' frustrations
41:02 Leading through COVID and other challenges
45:45 The person behind the public role
46:33 Four schools in four years
48:48 Noticing people who feel left out
50:48 Serving beyond city duties
51:20 Power of 100 Women, Greater Woodbury
56:30 Legacy and giving back
58:33 Getting involved and voting

Links

• Anne Burt
• Power of 100 Women, Greater Woodbury
• Official Minnesota voting information
• East Side Enterprise