How One Leap from Caracas
Rewrote My Career Story

Sometimes in life, there isn’t just one turning point. There are a few big ones: some we choose, some life throws at us. Often one leads to another…like a domino effect!
That’s how my story feels when I look back on it now.

After graduating from my undergrad in Boston, people (and myself) expected me to start and continue (forever?) my career in the U.S. I started my pet-sitting business that I loved and continued for over 4 years. This business connected me with valuable people that turned into my clients, it gave me the opportunity to enjoy their dogs (I loved every single one like my own), and most importantly, it gave me a sense of purpose outside of school and work.

But life? … Life had other plans.

After 2 years battling cancer, my mother passed away. It was 2020 and the start of the COVID Era so I couldn't go until a year later.  After I arrived, visiting Venezuela for the first time in a year, I realized my father and old home needed me. So, I paused the pet business I had built, packed up my life in Boston, and moved back to Caracas. As you can imagine, this was a decision that surprised almost everyone around me and honestly? It surprised me!

That move led to my first big and challenging job opportunity: SASCA Airlines. I spent nearly four years in the aviation industry, learning everything from branding to customer loyalty to flight scheduling and client bookings in a market (country) where sales and reach were limited but service and execution expectations were still high.

The Leap That Changed Everything

After those four years, I knew I was ready to open my wings again. I was ready to go find opportunities that would push me forward and broaden my perspective across different industries. That’s when I made another leap: this time back to my old home, Miami, Florida

I achieved my Master’s in Marketing while working in the U.S. across different roles, including agency social listening with RQ Agency in Los Angeles. I learned about trends, organic content and partnerships, beauty, etc.

However, one industry keeps pulling at me more than anything else: the pet industry.

People often ask, “Why the pet industry?”

My next question is usually: Have you ever had a pet that you loved so much you could cry just by looking at them? If the answer is no, well… they simply won't understand.

If it's yes, well then bingo. The bond between the two living beings, human and pet. For me, marketing is at its best when it’s personal. And nothing feels more personal than helping brands connect with people through the love they have for their pets. It’s emotional, it’s authentic, and it requires innovation with motive, creating with heart and leading with passion. After all, for pet parents, you’re talking about their family.

Lessons From the Journey

Here’s what all these turning points taught me:

Careers aren’t linear , they’re layered.

Every job, every city, every leap added skills and perspective, even when it didn’t feel like “the dream job.”

Pivoting is powerful.

Moving from aviation to marketing across multiple industries showed me that every chapter adds value to the next.

Dreams evolve, but passion leaves clues.

That little girl obsessed with animals? She’s the reason I’m chasing roles that combine strategy, creativity, and love for the pet world.

Your inner child leaves clues. 

Follow them, and you’ll find the work that 

doesn’t just pay the bills, but feeds your soul.

The Ongoing Journey

That chapter of my life, the big move, the master’s degree, the different jobs, the cross-industry experiences, has shaped me into the professional I am today. But my story isn’t done.

I’m still aiming for that next big turning point: landing a job in my dream industry of pets while staying open to opportunities in hospitality, entertainment, and travel. I will continue to be welcoming to those industries that thrive on creativity, emotional and cultural connection.

So, if you’re reading this right now and made it to the end, I hope that next time we meet here, it’s to share the good news: that I finally made it into the industry that has had my heart all along.

At the end of the day, passion hides in the places your inner child used to play.
When you remember what made you lose track of time, you find what truly matters.



TOPIC: Get personal and discuss a turning point or key moment in your professional career.  Pull out a few tips for your readers to learn from you.