Filipa Martins, a Master's student in Data Science at Iscte Business School, has been named to the Forbes Portugal 30 Under 30 Class of 2026 in the Science and Education category. The distinction recognises her outstanding academic achievements, research, and commitment to civic engagement.

"I was very happy and excited about this opportunity," says Filipa Martins, highlighting the significance of the recognition. "Being here is a vote of confidence, as this is a path I am only beginning to pursue."

Originally from Lomba, a small village in the municipality of Gondomar, Filipa grew up in a community whose geographical isolation meant she had to travel through another district to get to school. This experience sparked her early interest in social inequalities and social mobility—issues that continue to shape both her academic and professional journey.

She is currently completing her master's dissertation in collaboration with the Bank of Portugal, investigating the factors that influence Portuguese students' financial literacy performance using data from the PISA 2022. Her research seeks to understand the relative impact of different factors, such as schools and family backgrounds, on financial literacy, with the aim of identifying mechanisms that can help reduce inequalities.

Filipa's academic excellence has been recognised on several occasions. She received the Professor Jacinto Nunes Award, presented by the Bank of Portugal to the top graduate in the Bachelor's degree in Economics.

Alongside her academic work, she has maintained a strong commitment to civic participation. For more than a decade, she has taken part in initiatives such as the Programa Jovem Autarca and several national and international public policy forums.

In 2022, she also launched Simplifica, a podcast dedicated to economic and political literacy, with the goal of making these topics more accessible to the general public. The initiative later expanded to include workshops in schools, promoting financial literacy among younger generations.

For Filipa Martins, creating social impact remains her greatest motivation: "I like to feel that I can be a voice and help people who are experiencing some of the same difficulties that I faced."

Iscte Business School congratulates Filipa on being named to the Forbes Portugal 30 Under 30 Class of 2026. This distinction recognises her talent, dedication, and impact in the fields of science and education. It is a source of great pride for the entire academic community and reinforces Iscte Business School's commitment to educating professionals and researchers who contribute to building a more equitable, innovative, and sustainable society.