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
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.
