STUDENT STORY

From Unfulfilled Architect to No-Code Consultant

How Paula Ferreira transformed uncertainty into confidence, reigniting her career with no-code

Meet Paula Ferreira

Architect. Coach-in-training. Empowered dream-chaser.
Paula Ferreira once felt boxed in by a job that paid the bills but left her unfulfilled. After weathering the 2008 recession and spending 12 years in a role that didn’t light her up, she reached a breaking point. With two kids and a quiet but growing urge to do more, she took a leap into the unknown. She joined Descodifica-te #1, a program delivered through a partnership between Fundação AGEAS and NoCode Institute, with no tech background, no coding skills—just raw determination and a desire for change.

“I leave here with a lot of practical knowledge. I believe it will bring me many future benefits.”

Paula Ferreira
Alumni from Descodifica-te #1, 2022

The Challenge

Paula knew something had to shift. She’d tried coaching. Sent out CVs. Wondered if it was too late to pivot. "I like when I can stay in the same place for longer, with the same people. Every change makes me feel stuck, and I don’t adapt easily.” But she also knew: staying stuck wasn't an option. She needed a Plan B.

The Transformation

“I didn't know anything about no-code. It was a completely new experience.”

And yet, Paula dove in.

• Gained practical no-code skills from scratch

• Built confidence through continuous feedback and hands-on missions

• Unlocked a mindset shift around possibility, growth, and reinvention

• Began working with a real client on a professional investor portal

• Started envisioning her own business to help other coaches go digital

Her mindset opened. Her skills multiplied. Her words say it best:

“We think we can't do it, but we can do a lot.”

Behind the scenes

Favourite tool

All the new ones I’m still discovering

Favourite mission

Real client work that challenged me

Biggest challenge

Opening that first mental door

Most valuable learning

That support and feedback unlock growth

What’s Next for Paula

Paula didn’t just finish the program—she took flight. She’s now working as a digital no-code consultant, helping companies digitize their operations and create smarter, more creative solutions for their businesses. What once felt like a distant dream is now her daily reality: using tech to solve real problems, on her own terms. But she didn’t stop there. Paula also began collaborating with NoCode Institute as an Ambassador, offering support inside the community she once joined as a beginner. Her journey has come full circle. From unsure and stuck, to empowering others and building a business around what she’s learned.

Project Highlight

In the final stage of the Cohorts, students have the opportunity to work in a real project to develop not only technical skills, but also soft skills like client management, problem-solving, prioritization, and negotiation. Always with the support of our Mentors.

By the end of Descodifica-te #1, Paula found herself doing something she had never imagined months earlier: building a real solution for a real client.

She was paired with Point Capital Partners, a venture capital and private equity firm, to develop an internal portal, designed specifically for their investors.

The goal? To simplify access and communication between the firm and its investment partners.

Project Features
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Programs

What if this could be your pivot point?

Paula didn’t have a tech background. She had curiosity, courage, and a need for change. If you’re feeling stuck, she wants you to know: “You will be winners, without a doubt.”

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