Never Say Never

How coaching, writing, running retreats, and adopting a mindset of continuous curiosity has helped Alexandra Vinagre build a life of purpose 

If you ask Alexandra Vinagre about her journey into authorship, she’ll quickly tell you, with a laugh, “It was never, ever in my plans”. But life had other ideas, and looking back, publishing her book (Até Onde Quer Chegar? / How Far Do You Want To Go?) was a big catalyst for an awe-inspiring life transformation…

Meeting Alex and chatting about her life path, it’s impossible not to feel inspired. A former engineer turned business development manager, author, coach and enrollment advisor at Erickson Coaching International, Alex embodies exactly the kind of transformation that she writes about in her book and supports others in achieving through her coaching work. 

In a recent LinkedIn post, Alex recalls “a defining moment” in her life when her personal exploration into self-growth and coaching first started.

“One moment stood out: Joining Erickson Coaching International coach training back in 2012,” she writes. “Not just because I became a certified coach, trainer, and facilitator. Not just because I built a business from it. But because that decision changed my life.✨ The way I think. ✨ The way I connect - with clients, colleagues, friends, and family. ✨ The way I see (and create) opportunities. ✨ The community I became part of - and the friendships that moved beyond the training room and into real life.”

Her path wasn't always this clear...

Coaching provided the spark that Alex felt was missing in her work as an engineer and in sales. “Everything was okay,” she recalls, “but something was missing. So I hired a coach, and through that journey, I discovered so much about myself. That ultimately inspired me to follow a coaching path as well.”

She completed her coach training over two years and began offering one-on-one coaching sessions and running workshops on topics close to her heart - embracing a growth mindset and navigating change. Out of the blue, a book publisher - who had seen the impact of her workshops and believed that her messages centered around change, mindset, and purpose were messages that the world needed to hear - contacted Alex about writing a book.

The book that found her

Despite initial disbelief and a humbling wave of imposter syndrome (“Who am I to write a book?” she asked a writer friend, incredulously), Alex bravely embraced the opportunity and accepted an impossible proposal to start (and finish) a book in under 4 months. 

“I cancelled all of my plans, told my friends that they wouldn’t be seeing much of me for the next few months, and started writing the book, all while working full-time. It wasn’t an easy process at all, and it demanded relentless focus and inner resilience. But at the time, as I was also preparing for my final coaching oral assessment, I was lucky enough to be practising with and supported by an amazing group of Erickson coaches, and they honestly made all the difference.”

That process - stretching herself, dealing with doubts, and learning how to tell her story - became as much a part of the book as the content itself. It’s a heartfelt, practical guide to embracing a growth mindset, filled with exercises, meditations, and personal stories, including inspiration from her travels and coaching practice.

“For me, the growth mindset is all about building bridges, as opposed to putting up walls,” Alex explains. “In my book, I invite readers to reframe their thoughts and create real change in their lives in ways that are personal and authentic.”

Coaching, retreats, and the courage to quit

With the book completed, Alex felt a strong desire to bring its message into the world in an experiential way. Having traveled solo for years - often learning deeply about herself in the process - she realized that transformation often happens when we step into new environments. And that’s when the idea of retreats was born.

After the release of her book, and some wonderful press coverage, Alex realized that if she was going to give her all to this new career path in front of her, she needed to quit her job and go all in. And so she did.

“I didn’t plan it that way, but it ended up being a beautiful way to say goodbye to 14 years in that industry,” she says. “Everything lined up to push me forward, and I put all my energy into designing retreats to bring people to new places, help them disconnect, and partner with them to reconnect with their values, purpose, and beliefs.”

Alex’s first retreat, in Bali, was a hit, and retreats have become a signature part of her coaching work ever since.

The Erickson edge

As she sits chatting today, Alex is focusing on her role at Erickson, letting the dream for a 2026 retreat take hold, and starting the exciting process of working with a translator to translate her book (which is written in Portuguese) into English.

Her story highlights the kind of community and training that Erickson fosters. It’s not just a coach training organization - it’s a space where coaches are continually transformed by the very methodologies they go on to teach.

“I still keep my coaching and facilitation practice, especially in areas like growth mindset and sales, because those areas are so natural for me,” she shares. “Erickson plays a big role in my life right now, and so much of what I wrote in the book was inspired by Erickson’s training and solution-focused coaching methodology,” she says. 

To book a call with Alex for an Erickson virtual chat, click here, or visit her website here.