The Entrepreneurial Woman Fulfilling the American Dream

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Enterprising Woman – How to Fulfill the American Dream with Your Family in Texas – Even After a Shining Career Back Home

Len Pre Zeny | June 26, 2025

Not every path to the American Dream is straightforward. One of the less conventional ones is through foreign investment when someone bets on founding their own business and believes their experience will carry them across the ocean. While many successful Slovaks in the U.S. stayed abroad after school or were drawn in by corporate opportunities, another example is bold investment in America. Andrea chose that path and took her entire family along, changing all of their lives. Today, she dedicates her time not only to business consulting but also to supporting the community of successful Slovaks in the U.S., leading the Austin, Texas chapter of the Slovak PRO nonprofit. But it all began with Andrea’s grandfather and his equally unconventional legacy.“Dreams can come true regardless of age or starting conditions,” Andrea Hrušovská says.

Grandfather’s Legacy and America Gave Her Wings

“America gave me wings,” Andrea says with contagious excitement. That feeling was first born during her high school exchange program, which completely changed her life.

She vividly remembers landing in California, surrounded by diverse cultures and a school system that encouraged personal opinion. “In Slovakia, I got hit with a ruler on the fingers for answering math wrong. Suddenly, here I was being asked what I thought!” she laughs.

Originally from Šaľa, Andrea learned about the exchange opportunity just as her grandfather left behind an inheritance earmarked specifically for the education of his granddaughters. And so, her journey across the ocean was set.

You’d hardly believe today that the energetic, confident woman used to be a shy, bullied girl. The trip to the U.S. wasn’t all glamorous, she went hungry during lunch breaks, phone calls home were rare, and she experienced many firsts: first flight, first beach. While most go abroad to improve their language skills, this trip gave her confidence.“America didn’t just give me wings, it straightened my spine. I suddenly believed I could accomplish anything I set my mind to.”

Climbing the Corporate Ladder Back Home

That belief fueled her corporate journey in Slovakia. She worked her way up from an assistant at Mercedes to leadership positions at Heineken, Bekaert, and Emerson, excelling particularly in HR.

She earned the trust of top management by embracing challenges and going against the grain. She was tasked with building entire departments from scratch as foreign companies rapidly expanded into Slovakia. She also transformed how things were done.

She fondly recalls one bold move, removing landlines from her HR team and sending them into the field, even when mobile phones weren’t yet common at work. At Bekaert, where she was Recruitment Project Leader, her goal was to hire 500 people in five months for a new plant. She delivered 492 - strong, capable workers for heavy-duty jobs. The results spoke for themselves.“When the path doesn’t exist, build it. Pick up the stones and lay them yourself,” she quotes her life motto.

Under Her Own Flag – HR4U

Andrea founded HR4U with a mission: to help leaders and companies grow with integrity, purpose, and vision. Her motivation came from her own experience as an HR services client, especially in recruitment.“I wanted to offer HR services differently. I had been on the other side and didn’t like how some providers operated. My goal was to deliver top candidates and use science-backed tools to prove we were delivering the best.”

She started HR4U over 10 years ago, allowing her to align work with family life - like adjusting hours to attend her sons’ soccer games. Her clientele often came from her past networks, which she remains grateful for.

One example: Omnium Plastic in Central/Eastern Europe. As interim HR manager, she helped separate a newly acquired Exteriors division from its former parent company, Faurecia.“It was a challenge to build a new HR team, prepare for mass hiring, align leadership. And all with the knowledge that I’d eventually hand it off to a permanent HR manager. That’s interim crisis management, which I love - dive in fast, use data, pick a strategy, and sell it to leadership so they buy in and spread it.”

Success in the U.S. & Building Her Own Firm

Despite a successful career in Slovakia, Andrea felt a need for change. The real shift came when the family decided to move to the U.S.

“I’m now in Austin, Texas,” she shares. The idea was hers, even if her husband was hesitant. “He liked life in Slovakia. Asked what we were missing. But sometimes comfort can be stifling.” She also wanted her sons to gain the same wings she once did.

Their move was made easier by Martin Valka, Honorary Consul in Texas and immigration lawyer. Thanks to him, they received investor visas.“I felt unstoppable,” Andrea says with a smile. “We came, started a business, and now we live the American Dream, which mostly means working incredibly hard, but the support system here is amazing.”

From seasoned Slovak HR leader to executive consultant and coach in the U.S., Andrea’s story is one of bold transformation and building bridges between Eastern Europe and the American market with her family by her side.

Early days in the U.S. weren’t easy. “It was a hit to the ego,” Andrea admits. In Slovakia, she had a network and didn’t have to ‘sell’ herself. Here, she had to start over.“It was one slap after another. But I thought: maybe this is what I needed in life. A new challenge.”

The Power of Networking

Her network once again proved essential.“Thanks to Martin Valka, I joined a group of Slovak professionals and was invited to the first Slovak PRO Summit. It was incredible to meet successful Slovaks in all industries, with unique stories. That energy stayed with me long after I returned from NYC. I’m incredibly grateful for Slovak PRO and proud to be the founder of its Austin chapter.”

She proudly represented Slovakia as a panelist at the Texas EU Summit, helping raise Slovakia’s profile. The Slovak flag now hangs at the global accelerator Q-branch thanks to this outreach and many Slovak startups have now entered the U.S. market through these efforts.

“One of the highlights was working with the Slovak Embassy and SARIO to organize a full program for 15 Slovak startups. They got to pitch in Texas to 350+ people, including investors and clients. Huge thanks to Ambassador Radovan Javorčík, the SARIO team, and my Slovak PRO family.”

Andrea organized Slovak PRO House at SXSW - the biggest innovation festival in Austin for the second year in a row, this time in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SARIO, the Embassy, and Consulate.

Building Bridges for the U.S. and Global Innovation

Andrea’s strategic advisory, mentoring, and executive coaching have been essential for organizations entering the U.S. from Europe.

“Lately I’ve focused on helping Central and Eastern European companies succeed in the U.S. We may speak English, but the cultural differences are real. I build bridges.”

Through her work, she supports a more connected global economy, helping European companies expand in the U.S. She’s also seeing increased demand from American companies looking to enter Europe.

New Chapter: Author of “Born to Be Successful”

Andrea recently added author to her resume with the release of her first book, “Born to Be Successful” (link).“I wanted this message out in the world for a long time, how society, parents, and educators shape a child’s success even before they’re born. There’s so much we can do during pregnancy and early childhood.” As an HR expert and a mother, the topic is close to her heart.

Embracing the Journey

Her sons were her biggest motivation.“My mom worried a lot about Lukáš, our younger son, he was a strong introvert. But after six months, he told me, ‘Mom, I’m a different person.’ He thought he wouldn’t compete in English or math, but now he’s one of the best. That brought me to tears.”

Her older son, Matej, thrives in the U.S. “His creativity and initiative are welcomed and rewarded. Here, it’s okay to think differently!”

And her message to those back in Slovakia?“Don’t be afraid of change. Step out of your comfort zone. Even if it hurts and your ego takes a hit, with humility and gratitude you’ll grow. Believe in yourself, work hard, and never give up. Even far from home, you can always build and be part of a strong Slovak community that supports you. We made it and you can too.”

Andrea’s story proves that the American Dream isn’t just for young grads or corporate execs. With courage, confidence, and the willingness to start over, anything is possible at any age.“Yes it’s absolutely doable,” she concludes.

Her energy and determination show that when you’re willing to change your life for the better, every obstacle becomes a building block. And it seems she and her family are not just living the American Dream, but fulfilling the legacy her grandfather entrusted to them.

Author: Kika Sojáková