We were lucky to catch up with Laura Petit recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Laura , thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
Society often imposes on us an idea of success conditioned by gender. For women, this often translates to being attractive, marrying a ‘successful man’—defined by traditional standards as handsome and a good provider—having a couple of children, and balancing a career. But the truth is, not everyone wants that. I believe that success should be something each person defines for themselves, aligned with their own values. To do this, it’s essential to know yourself first—understand what’s important to you, what makes you happy, what inspires you, what bores you, and what feels intolerable. Without clear personal standards and values, it’s easy to get swept along by societal expectations and end up doing things that betray your true self just to fit in.
For me, success is, as Cindy Lauper says, about expressing my ‘true colors.’ I follow my own standards in both my personal and professional life: I aim to infuse joy into everything I do and to create beauty in the world around me. I pride myself on always following my heart, and to me, that’s true success.
Laura , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Creating connections and communication have been constants in my life—personally and professionally. Despite being incredibly shy, I dreamed of becoming an actor. I started performing in high school. The very first time I was on stage, I felt at home. It became my favorite place to explore different aspects of myself through a character, and it gave me a unique connection with others that I’d been craving.
When it came time to choose a college path, I studied communication and psychology, delving into how to tell stories and engage audiences, this time through media. I was equally fascinated by understanding how the mind works. Around this time, I launched my career as a professional actor with the National Youth Theatre of Venezuela, performing in various venues and festivals. My perspective on theater changed forever when I was selected for an artistic residency in Rio de Janeiro with the legendary Augusto Boal. Through working with Boal, I discovered the profound power of theater as a tool for transformation and healing.
After returning to Venezuela, I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication and continued performing and teaching theater in communities. I also produced and hosted a TV show that encouraged healthy habits and weight loss. My love for connecting with younger generations led me to begin teaching theater at my alma mater, the University of Zulia, where I learned as much from my students as I taught.
I never envisioned leaving my country—I always thought I’d travel and then return home. So, emigrating from my hometown, Maracaibo, to New York City was challenging. Starting over from scratch was difficult, but I realized the resilience within us. We might lose material things or a familiar lifestyle, but we always carry our knowledge and experience. In New York, I connected with the Latino and independent theater scene, performing again, and I started a blog to share all the things I love about the city. I also began working in communications and marketing in the nonprofit sector.
I am deeply passionate about crafting powerful stories that help people overcome challenges. I bring together all my tools—whether from theater, media, or social platforms—to create these narratives. My love for language and the written word has led me to study how words shape thought, culture, and reality. Being bilingual in English and Spanish also gives me a multicultural perspective that helps me connect with a wide audience on a meaningful level.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
The most difficult challenge I’ve ever faced was separating from my daughter when she was only 13. Every day in our country, the situation worsened—food was scarce, power outages became routine, crime was rampant, and political repression weighed on us. Her father decided to come to the U.S. and take her with him. It was heartbreaking to consider the possibility of not seeing her for a long time, but I agreed, knowing that the bright future she—and all young people—deserved was simply not possible in Venezuela.
I’ll never forget the day I said goodbye to her at the airport, not knowing when we’d be together again. I stayed behind in Venezuela, alone, as the rest of my family had already left. I didn’t want to abandon everything I’d built in my life, but over time, I realized it was finally my turn to leave and be close to my daughter. Five months later, we were reunited in New York.
One of our first trips together was to Ellis Island. We listened to an audio guide that said, ‘Imagine being separated from your loved ones and reuniting after a long time. That happened right here.’ My daughter turned to me and said, ‘I don’t have to imagine it—I know what that feels like.’ We embraced, both of us crying tears of joy at being together again.
That was nine years ago. Since then, we’ve made this country our home and realized that home is wherever the people you love are.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
A resource that has profoundly shaped my life philosophy is A Course in Miracles. It’s fascinating because it aligns with much of today’s neuroscience research on how our thoughts shape our reality—if we want to change our reality, we must start by changing our thoughts. Jungian analysis has also been instrumental in helping me recognize and understand my behavioral patterns.
And, of course, theater has been invaluable. Practicing theater has taught me to tune into my body’s responses, emotions, and thoughts, and to see how deeply connected they all are. Learning about neuroscience and emotions has only reinforced my belief that science is validating what artists have practiced intuitively for centuries. I believe everyone should experience theater, not necessarily as a career but as a way to grow personally and connect more deeply with themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laurapetit.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: @lauraipetit
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-petit-4aa597228/
- Other: https://laura-petit.com/
Image Credits
Credit to acting image colleen_sturtevant_photography