Clara Capitão studied Languages and Germanic Literatures in the Faculdade de Letras University of Porto and English and American Literature in Harvard University Extension School.

After working as a translator and reader in German and English, she started to work in the editorial sector, in 2006. After three years in the Company Editorial Presença, she became an editor in Objectiva, where she later became the General Director. After the company was bought by Penguin Random House, she maintained this position, until July 2021. Presently, she is the codirector of the Penguin Random House as well as the Editorial Director.