From Call Center to Community Management

She left a 15-year job behind. Now she’s empowering others as a Community & Program Manager.

Meet Telma Gonçalves

Dreamer. Doer. No longer waiting for permission.

Telma Gonçalves had spent 15 years in the same call center job, where routine ruled and creativity was left at the door. With a sociology degree in hand and a deep love for haircare, especially curly textures, Telma knew she had more to give. But the right moment never seemed to come. So she made her own.

"I was stuck for so many years. Now I’m learning, building, and sharing what I create with everyone around me. I finally feel like I’m moving forward—and it feels amazing."

Telma Gonçalves

Student from Descodifica-te #1, 2022

The Challenge

Telma wasn’t lost—she was stuck.

A secure paycheck, familiar days, and an unchanging script were her norm. But security started to feel like a cage. Even when she poured passion into a YouTube channel on curly hair, the nagging feeling remained: Is this really it?

When she finally walked away from the job, she enrolled in a hairdressing course. It felt freeing. But it also raised new questions:
What if I need a Plan B?
Could I really learn something completely new, like tech?

The Transformation

“At first, I thought, I’m not made for this. But then... I surprised myself.”

Telma joined Descodifica-te #1, powered by Fundação AGEAS + NoCode Institute, on her birthday. She took it as a sign. Here’s what changed:

Built her first landing page within days
Developed a dental treatment quote calculator for a real client
Discovered she could combine beauty + tech to support hairstylists with no websites
Reconnected with her confidence and creativity
Learned to take action—even when uncertain

“Now I say: Don’t wait for the right moment. Just start. Something good will come out of it.”

Behind the scenes

Favorite
Tool

Glide

Favourite mission

The first landing page challenge

Biggest challenge

Math! (hello, loan calculator)

Most valuable learning

Getting out of the comfort zone = growth

What’s Next for Telma

She’s already shaping a new career—one where her creativity and tech skills work hand in hand.

From freelance no-code support for salons to empowering women with digital tools, Telma’s future is full of possibilities.
Oh—and a surprise twist? She’s now Program Manager at NoCode Institute. She didn’t just grow. She became part of the mission.

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.

‍For her final project, Telma was challenged in several ways. Not only did she have to apply the new technical skills, but the scope of the project challenged her in an unfamiliar area: finance.

The client was Leadsshortcut - a digital marketing agency for dentists - and they wanted a Dental Treatment Budget Calculator.

Enrolled in numbers and no-code tools, Telma managed to create a mobile app successfully in Glide, delivering the project to a very happy client.

The Results

✅ Calculates treatment estimates
✅ Acts as a lead magnet
✅ Built to be client-friendly and fast

View Project

Programs

Ready for your own transformation?

Telma thought she “wasn’t made for this.” Now she’s managing programs, building tools, and shaping her future. What if you gave yourself that chance, too?