Brian Austin

Brian P. Austin volunteered with Amigos de Las Americas (AMIGOS) for the inaugural Brazil project.  He credits his AMIGOS experience with providing a transformative immersion in cross-cultural service and leadership, equipping him with key skills that have directly translated to success in the business world. 

Living with a host family and collaborating on community-led projects in Brazil immersed him in a new culture, far from familiar surroundings, building adaptability and resilience. The experience also included leadership development, decision-making, problem-solving under constraints, and motivating others. Working in a resource-limited context honed resourcefulness, creative problem-solving, and the ability to achieve goals with limited resources. The cross-cultural aspect fostered global awareness, cultural sensitivity, and strong interpersonal communication skills, particularly in multilingual or multicultural teams. In today’s globalized business landscape, these abilities have helped in international negotiations, client relations, diverse workplaces, and building partnerships. Overall, AMIGOS in Brazil pushed Brian out of his comfort zone, boosting confidence, self-reliance, and a sense of initiative—qualities that have stood out to employers and prepared him to thrive in collaborative, high-stakes professional environments.  

Brian is currently the Chief Operating Officer – East for Alliance Residential, overseeing all investment activities in the eastern part of the United States. Mr. Austin graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA in Finance.