From Lawyer in Caracas to Digital Leader in Houston: Astrid Burney’s Journey of Reinvention

By Patricia Contreras*

“You arrive knowing you may have to clean houses or work in restaurants—it’s part of the process,” she says.

“What breaks my heart the most is when my daughter calls me ‘Mommy’ and I’m answering work messages or calls.”

Some stories are born out of necessity. Others are born from hope. Astrid Burney’s story was born from both. Here is our conversation with her on Sin Libreto by WoodlandStories.

Roots in Caracas, Global Vision

Born in Caracas in 1984 into a multicultural family with Chilean and Colombian roots, Astrid was shaped from an early age by discipline, curiosity, and creativity. She attended a Catholic school from childhood and later earned her law degree with a specialization in Labor Law.

Even as a student, Astrid pursued her passions with remarkable energy: running marathons across Caracas, exploring extreme sports such as skydiving, bungee jumping, and climbing, and immersing herself in theater, museums, and other artistic activities.

“I’ve always had this creative spark,” she reflects. “That’s what led me to become a content creator. I love creating, experimenting, and building something from scratch.”

Travel also played a central role in her life. By her early twenties, she had already explored more than 15 countries’ experiences that fueled her curiosity about the world and helped shape her global perspective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ80MPw3Fh0

Migration and Reinvention

By 2016, Venezuela’s political and economic crisis had made everyday life unsustainable.

“It’s hard to say, but I left because I didn’t want to live in misery,” Astrid recalls.

Shortages, long lines for basic goods, and constant uncertainty forced her to make a life-changing decision: to migrate to the United States.

Like many immigrants, she started from scratch—working long hours in restaurants and hotels, cleaning houses, and taking any job that allowed her to rebuild her life.

“You arrive knowing you may have to clean houses or work in restaurants—it’s part of the process,” she says.

What Astrid didn’t know yet was that her future would unfold in the digital world.

Building a Family, Building a Platform

In 2017, she met the man who would become her life partner, Kevin Burney. Together they built a family that today is the driving force behind all her efforts.

Their children, Nathan, born in 2018, and Lucy, in 2020, are a fundamental part of the story she has shared with thousands of followers.

It was during her first pregnancy that Astrid had the idea that would define her career: sharing her daily experiences as an immigrant.

“I realized there were thousands of people with the same questions I had when I arrived—how to start a business, where to go, how to adapt,” she says.

Her content resonated immediately, and her community grew organically into a vibrant support network for immigrants and entrepreneurs.

It was also the year she became a mother that one of the most important projects of her life was born: Mi Gente en Texas.

Astrid began documenting her daily life as an immigrant and mother on social media, and it eventually became a reference platform for the Hispanic community in Houston.

“What started as a digital diary turned into a support network for immigrants and entrepreneurs,” she explains.

From Sharing Experiences to Empowering Businesses

Over time, small and medium-sized businesses began reaching out to her, interested in promoting their products through her social media platforms.

That’s when Astrid discovered a new calling: digital marketing for local businesses.

Today she defines herself as a social blogger and content creator, helping brands and entrepreneurs gain visibility on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Through creative videos and engaging content, her work has helped many Latino businesses reach new customers and strengthen their presence in the community.

Her mission is clear: “To help entrepreneurs discover what makes them different and grow with their brands.”

The Latino Entrepreneurial Spirit

During the interview, Astrid shares a message she often repeats to her followers: “Be bold.”

According to her, the biggest obstacle for many immigrants is not the lack of opportunity—it’s fear.

“Many people stay in their comfort zone. But entrepreneurship begins the moment you decide to take that first step.”

She also emphasizes something many Latinos still underestimate: the power of social media.

“It’s a free tool to grow and sell. All you need is the courage to start.”

The Strength of Community

Another pillar of her message is collaboration.

Astrid firmly believes that Latino entrepreneurs must work together more often.

“Hispanics tend to work alone. But when we support each other, we grow faster.”

From community events to digital promotion campaigns, her platform has brought together dozens of small business owners and helped strengthen Houston’s Latino identity.

The Price of Success

Professional growth has also brought difficult moments.

One of the most emotional reflections she shares in the podcast has to do with the time she dedicates to work.  “What breaks my heart the most is when my daughter calls me ‘Mommy’ and I’m answering work messages or calls.”

That realization led her to rethink something essential for any entrepreneur: the balance between success and family.  “If all the work you do leaves you with no time for your children, then something is wrong.”

Breaking Stereotypes

At home, there is also a dynamic that is still uncommon in many Latino families.

Her husband took on the primary role in the daily care of their daughters while she developed her entrepreneurial career.

“He’s an incredible dad. He handles the routines, the meals, the school—and he does it better than anyone.”

A decision that challenges cultural stereotypes and proves that success is also built through mutual support.

A Story That Inspires

Today, nearly a decade after arriving in the United States, Astrid Burney represents the spirit of thousands of immigrants who chose to start over.

But if there is one word that defines her story, it is the one she repeats most often: Dare.

Because, as Astrid says: “We all have an idea or a talent. The only thing missing is the courage to begin.”

*Patricia Contreras is Journalist with more than 25 years of experience across multiple media outlets. Holds a postgraduate degree as a Specialist in Public Opinion and a Master’s in Political Science with an emphasis on Public Policy. She is the founder and director of WoodlandStories Magazine.