The journey
From Castelo Branco to Lisbon.
From Law to Code.
Every step, every decision, every calculated risk. This is the timeline of a career change.
Law Firm
Solicitor (Internship)
Support to legal and administrative processes. First contact with professional legal practice.
Law Firm
Solicitor (Internship)
Support to legal and administrative processes. First contact with professional legal practice.
Aptiv
Factory Operator
Participation in operational processes at a multinational automotive components company. Teamwork in industrial environment.
Aptiv
Factory Operator
Participation in operational processes at a multinational automotive components company. Teamwork in industrial environment.
Fidelidade
Commercial Assistant (Internship)
Support to commercial activities and customer-related processes. Assistance to sales and commercial operations.
Fidelidade
Commercial Assistant (Internship)
Support to commercial activities and customer-related processes. Assistance to sales and commercial operations.
Ana Filipa Gonçalves
Solicitor Intern OSAE
Support to legal and administrative processes. Document analysis and support to enforcement procedures.
Ana Filipa Gonçalves
Solicitor Intern OSAE
Support to legal and administrative processes. Document analysis and support to enforcement procedures.
Martins & Catarino, Forestry Lda.
Administrative Assistant
Collaboration in operational and digital processes. Analysis and improvement of internal processes. Exploration and application of AI for task and workflow optimisation. Awarded at SME EnterPRIZE (National Sustainability Award for SMEs, 3rd edition).
Martins & Catarino, Forestry Lda.
Administrative Assistant
Collaboration in operational and digital processes. Analysis and improvement of internal processes. Exploration and application of AI for task and workflow optimisation. Awarded at SME EnterPRIZE (National Sustainability Award for SMEs, 3rd edition).
Generali Tranquilidade
T-Xpert Program: Commercial Direction
Internship program with rotation in customer service and commercial support. Corporate business coordination for enterprise portfolio operations.
Generali Tranquilidade
T-Xpert Program: Commercial Direction
Internship program with rotation in customer service and commercial support. Corporate business coordination for enterprise portfolio operations.
Generali Tranquilidade
Assistant to Corporate Business Coordinator
Management and operational support of the "Valor Vida T" life insurance product portfolio in Lisbon. Corporate business coordination and enterprise portfolio operations.
Generali Tranquilidade
Assistant to Corporate Business Coordinator
Management and operational support of the "Valor Vida T" life insurance product portfolio in Lisbon. Corporate business coordination and enterprise portfolio operations.
Ecost.ai
Developer
Web development focused on usability, performance and scalability. Interface implementation with React/Next.js. Integration of AI tools for development support. Collaboration on UX improvement and design-to-development transition.
Ecost.ai
Developer
Web development focused on usability, performance and scalability. Interface implementation with React/Next.js. Integration of AI tools for development support. Collaboration on UX improvement and design-to-development transition.
Lessons
What I learned along the way.
5 lessons from someone who left a stable career to start from scratch.
Age is an excuse, not a limit.
I started coding after 25. If I'd known then what I know now, I'd have started sooner. But what matters is that I started.
Learn by doing, not watching.
Tutorials are comfortable. Building is uncomfortable. But you only learn to solve real problems by building.
Your past is a competitive advantage.
Insurance, law, management... all of it gave me product vision, user empathy, and the ability to negotiate.
Perfection kills. Speed builds.
I shipped fast, iterated constantly. Imperfect code that solves problems is worth more than perfect code that never ships.
What drives you defines what you build.
I like solving real problems with technology. Every project is a chance to do better, to simplify complexity, and to create something with impact.