Marta Ferreira
Senior Life Coach & Editorial Director
Vigcard Unipessoal, Lda.
"The second half of life isn't a fade-out. It's actually where things get clearer. You know yourself better. You've stopped caring about proving things. That's when real reinvention becomes possible — not because you're starting from scratch, but because you're finally building from what actually matters."
16 Years of Guiding Life Transitions
Marta's work centers on a simple truth: your 40s and 50s don't have to follow the script you were handed in your 20s. With 16 years of experience guiding mid-career professionals through major life shifts, she's helped over 2,000 individuals in Portugal navigate career pivots, pre-retirement planning, and the messy, exciting process of reinvention.
Her journey started at 42, when she made her own unexpected leap from a 12-year corporate HR career into life coaching. That transition—the uncertainty, the self-doubt, the eventual clarity—became her greatest teacher. She completed her Master's degree in Psychology from Universidade do Porto in 2015, then pursued specialized training in adult development and coaching psychology through the International Coach Federation.
What sets her approach apart is grounded pragmatism. She doesn't sell fantasy versions of retirement or reinvention. Instead, she works within Portugal's economic realities, social systems, and the specific cultural context that shapes how we think about aging and purpose. Her coaching blends behavioral psychology with hard-earned wisdom about what actually works when you're 45 or 55 or 62 and facing major life decisions.
Professional Journey
From corporate career to coaching pioneer in Portugal's midlife transition space
Corporate HR Career
Twelve years in human resources at major Portuguese corporations. Built talent development programs, managed organizational change, and gained firsthand understanding of how people navigate career challenges. But at 42, she realized she wanted to help people more directly—beyond organizational frameworks.
Master's in Psychology
Completed Master's degree from Universidade do Porto, focusing on adult development and behavioral psychology. This wasn't just credentialing—it was the foundation for understanding how people actually change and what blocks them from reinvention.
ICF Coaching Certification
Advanced training through the International Coach Federation. Specialized certifications in executive coaching, adult transitions, and behavioral change. Studied with coaches who worked across Europe, bringing international perspective to Portuguese context.
Vigcard & Educational Leadership
Founded her coaching practice focused exclusively on the 45+ demographic. Recognized a gap: most career coaching and retirement planning resources ignored the psychological, social, and identity challenges people face during this transition. She's now developed comprehensive educational content on pre-retirement planning, personal reinvention, and building meaningful lives in the second chapter. Her work combines one-on-one coaching with written resources that demystify midlife transitions for thousands.
Areas of Expertise
Focused work on the challenges that define your 40s, 50s, and beyond
Midlife Transition Psychology
It's not a crisis—it's a recalibration. Marta helps you understand what's actually happening in your brain and life when you hit 45 or 50. She works through the identity shifts, the reassessment of choices, and the opportunity to design what comes next intentionally.
Career Reinvention Strategies
Whether you're pivoting to something completely different or reimagining your current field, she helps you navigate the practical and emotional sides of career change. This includes skill assessment, market positioning, and managing the fear that comes with starting something new mid-career.
Pre-Retirement Planning Beyond Finance
Financial advisors handle the money. Marta handles the identity piece—the part nobody talks about. How do you stay engaged? What gives your days meaning? How do you build community? Who are you without your career title?
Personal Reinvention & Second Chapter Design
The second chapter isn't about returning to who you were at 25. It's about building from everything you've learned. She works with you to identify what matters now, what skills and interests you want to develop, and how to design a life that feels authentic to who you've become.
Identity & Purpose Coaching
When your career-defined identity shifts, everything feels uncertain. Marta helps you explore who you are beyond the job title and build a sense of purpose that's grounded in your values, not external validation.
Behavioral Change & Habit Design
Knowing what you want to change is different from actually changing it. Her psychology background means she understands the behavioral science behind habit formation, resistance, and sustainable change—especially relevant when building new routines and identities.
Educational Resources
Written for people navigating the second chapter of life
Beyond one-on-one coaching, Marta writes and teaches extensively about life transitions, pre-retirement planning, and personal reinvention. Her content is grounded in psychology research but written in plain language—no jargon, no corporate speak. She's published dozens of articles exploring the mindset shifts, practical strategies, and emotional truths about midlife reinvention.
Her teaching emphasizes that reinvention after 45 isn't frivolous or selfish—it's actually the most pragmatic thing you can do. The second half of life is longer than ever before. Designing it intentionally, rather than defaulting to what's expected, leads to engagement, resilience, and genuine fulfillment.
Her Coaching Philosophy
No Cookie-Cutter Answers
Your situation is specific. Your context matters—culturally, economically, personally. She doesn't apply generic frameworks. She listens first, understands your actual life, then works from there.
Grounded in Reality
She's not selling fantasies about unlimited potential or dramatic transformations. Real reinvention is messier and more interesting. It's built on what you already know about yourself, not what you think you should want.
Pragmatic Psychology
Her Master's in Psychology and coaching training inform everything she does. But theory only matters if it helps you make better decisions. She translates psychological research into practical strategies you can actually use.
The Second Half Isn't a Consolation Prize
Our culture treats aging like a decline. Marta fundamentally rejects that. With better health, more self-knowledge, and (often) more resources than you had at 25, your 50s and 60s can be your most intentional, engaged years.
Ready to Explore Your Next Chapter?
Whether you're curious about reinvention, facing a major transition, or planning for what comes after your current career, Marta's here to help. Start by reading her articles, then reach out to discuss coaching.