The HERA Labs Programme, part of the HERA project coordinated by Sónia Dias at the NOVA National School of Public Health, offers a participatory and practice-oriented learning experience designed to support women in their personal and professional development.
In Portugal, the initiative is currently engaging three groups, bringing together 65 women aged 45+, all following a structured programme of 16 sessions. Among them, the first group is now at a more advanced stage of this journey, having progressed through the initial phases of the programme.
The process began with a strong focus on building trust, connection, and mutual support, creating a safe space where participants could share experiences and recognise their strengths. This was followed by a phase centred on developing skills, exploring learning pathways, and identifying individual goals and priorities.
Now, this group has reached a key moment: the “Building Connections Together” phase.
This stage marks an important shift from internal reflection to external engagement. Through interactive sessions with external contributors from different sectors, participants are exposed to diverse perspectives and real-world experiences, helping them connect their ideas with concrete opportunities and professional pathways.
Rather than simply receiving information, participants are actively engaging, asking questions, and testing their ideas in dialogue with these contributors. This process is helping them refine their thinking, overcome barriers, and strengthen their confidence in communicating their projects.
A particularly impactful element of this phase has been the focus on developing and presenting ideas. Through hands-on activities, participants are gaining practical tools to structure their projects, communicate them clearly, and build confidence in presenting them to others.
“Many participants come with strong experience, but often without a clear way to translate it into new opportunities and creation of their business. What we are seeing is a shift — they are starting to reframe their skills, structure their ideas, and communicate them in ways that support reskilling and new professional pathways”, said Carolina Santos from NOVA National School of Public Health, who facilitated the session on pitching and presentation skills.
What continues to stand out is the strength of the group itself. The sense of connection extends well beyond the formal sessions, with participants supporting and inspiring one another in meaningful ways. This collective energy reflects the core spirit of HERA Labs, where shared experiences lead to confidence, new perspectives, and real transformation.
As the programme progresses, all groups will move into the final phase, where participants will translate their learning into personal action plans, defining concrete next steps for their personal and professional journeys.
