She graduated from La Costa Canyon High School in 2010 and went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley,[4][5] graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in media studies and anthropology.

[6][7] In college she was a producer at CalTV,[8] acted in university plays on campus,[9][10] and served as a Matsui Center fellow at the United Nations Information Center Washington in 2014.

[11][6] After graduating, through 2016, Burns worked as a media writer and strategist for a consulting agency, while writing opinion pieces for CNN.

[16] After Fetterman debated Republican candidate Mehmet Oz, several members of the media said that Burns was owed an apology from Gisele Fetterman and members of the media.

[17] In March and April 2020, Burns shared her experience of missing work due to contracting the COVID-19 virus.