Essential business skills - adopting an entrepreneurial mindset.

Abstract:

Over the last couple of years the marketplace for translation and interpreting has been disrupted by AI in the sense that clients are now tempted by the technology and might not automatically turn to their trusted language professional as they did in the past. So perhaps language professionals also need to adapt and consider adopting a more entrepreneurial approach in order to be successful now and in the future. Developing greater business acumen, and enhancing client-facing skills and technological proficiency are likely to be useful strategies to deploy. However, a mindset shift might also be required to enable us to feel comfortable talking about delivering solutions that fit the clients’ needs rather than focusing solely on the quality of our language outputs. Sara will share her thoughts on how we prepare ourselves to be entrepreneurial professionals.

We will:

• Explore the definition of entrepreneurship and how this relates to professionalism
• Consider the positive entrepreneurial attributes that could help us enhance our business models
• Discuss the potential to position our services as more client-focused and solutions-oriented

Speaker:

Sara Robertson is CEO of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting

Sara initially trained as an architect at Edinburgh College of Art where she specialised in historic building conservation. Having undertaken the SPAB Lethaby Scholarship in 2002 she spent the early years of her career honing her skills in conservation policy and practice in various roles at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Leading the award-winning Faith in Maintenance project was a highlight from this time. In 2015, she left SPAB to take up a strategic policy role as Head of Historic Environment at the Heritage Lottery Fund before returning to the voluntary sector to become Chief Executive at Icon (the Institute of Conservation) in January 2019.

In May 2023 Sara moved into a new sector, taking up the post of Chief Executive at the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). Although she is not a linguist, she has a long-standing enthusiasm for languages, and harbours an ambition to brush up her German skills. Her voluntary role as a Council member of Europa Nostra (a pan-European cultural heritage charity) brings her into contact with professionals working in the cultural heritage sector from all corners of Europe and has taught her the value of timely, effective, accurate and trust-worthy communication between those who speak different languages. She is therefore proud to be an advocate for the vital services provided by translators and interpreters.