Professor at the Department of Political Economy, Law and Economic Policy of the Warsaw School of Economics. In 2007–2010, she was a member of the diplomatic service. She headed the political and economic department of the Polish Embassy in the Republic of Korea. A long-time member of the NBP Education Council and of the Jury of the NBP Władysław Grabski Competition for Best Economic Journalist.
On 28 February 2020, President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, at the request of the Governor of Narodowy Bank Polski, appointed Marta Kightley member of the NBP Management Board as of 8 March 2020.