From teaching herself Latin to fostering global communication, Joanna Pawulska Saunders of Lifestyle Translations reflects on the dramatic evolution of translation tools and her enduring passion for connecting people and organizations across international borders. 

What is your favorite thing about Multilingual magazine?
What I enjoy most are the personal stories, which bring a certain warmth to an industry that can sometimes feel fragmented and a little isolated. I especially liked the article about the Vargas sisters [in the October 2025 issue]. Even their mum got a mention, which made it feel so joyful. 

I also appreciate how the magazine approaches potentially controversial topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), environmental issues, diversity, and accessibility with a balanced and positive tone. Now that I’ve discovered the archives, I find myself dipping in whenever I have a spare moment.

How did you get involved in the translation/interpreting business?
As a child, I tried to teach myself Latin from a prayer book written in parallel text, with English on one side and Latin on the other. It was a fascinating exercise, and, for a seven-year-old, far more interesting than listening to the sermon! Getting a phrase right gave me both a thrill and a sense of satisfaction. That, I think, is when I realized I wanted to work with languages — before I even knew what translation or interpreting were. Over time, I narrowed down the possibilities until I realized I wanted to work in business,  helping people and organizations understand one another more clearly. Even then I was drawn to the idea of globalization, of building bridges across cultures and borders, long before it became a major topic of public debate.

Since you entered the business, how has the landscape changed?
In terms of tools and technology, it’s almost unrecognizable. When I started out, research meant dictionaries, encyclopedias, and long afternoons in public libraries. Work was done on a typewriter; mine even had a tiny screen, which felt remarkably advanced at the time because it let me correct the last few words before they were actually typed. Deliveries went by post, of course. What hasn’t changed, though, is the intellectual challenge and the importance of cultural nuance — and the fact that I still use a fountain pen!

Could you share your experience working with your first client or on your first project?|
Toward the end of my postgraduate course, I chose civil engineering as my niche, mainly because I had access to some good textbooks. My first client came through word of mouth, although I’m still not sure who recommended me! The project was an article on restoring a masonry arch bridge. I did plenty of library research, visited a few comparable structures in the United Kingdom, and even had the chutzpah to take the finished document to a local civil engineering company to check terminology. The finished translation was sent by airmail. All discussions with the client were by phone, which felt daunting at the time but helped me build close working relationships.

Freelancing, though, felt isolated, so I joined an established business as an in-house linguist, first in the travel trade, then with an international training company, and finally at a management consultancy. Then I went on maternity leave. When I came back everything had changed: Computers were everywhere, the Internet was widespread, and the industry was evolving fast. So I found a new niche, acquired a computer and a computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool — and the rest is history! I thoroughly enjoy freelancing now, but those early years in an office environment taught me invaluable soft skills that every freelancer should have a chance to learn.

Do you believe it’s a good time to enter the translation/interpreting business?
I see the landscape changing very quickly, and there’s a lot of doom and gloom out there. But as long as we stay alert and aware of these changes, there’s no reason not to enter the profession. It’s important to recognize that translation and interpreting are skills in their own right, distinct from simply speaking two or more languages, and that there’s still room for talented practitioners as long as they can add value, differentiate themselves from the crowd, and make their skills visible.

At the same time, life as a freelancer can be challenging. A good sense of financial responsibility is just one of the skills needed to navigate the realities of self-employment. For example, I recently recovered from a case of Bell’s palsy. I wasn’t sick enough to claim insurance, but my pace of work slowed considerably, so I was grateful for the financial contingency that carried me through those couple of months.

Ultimately, for those who are adaptable and diligent (as well as skilled at their job!) the profession continues to offer opportunities to grow, connect, and make a meaningful impact.

Where do you see yourself professionally in the next 10 years?
The creative side of translation, including literary translation and transcreation, has always been my first love, so I hope to continue working at the coal face, focusing on what I truly enjoy. There will always be new things to explore and learn, and those challenges are what keep me motivated and inspired. I also hope to find new opportunities for collaboration and mentoring while continuing to grow and deepen my own skills.

What predictions do you have for the future of the translation/interpreting business?
I see change ahead, and the perceived bogeyman is, of course, AI. Right now, it feels all-powerful, poised to change our world. And it will certainly change workflows, but not necessarily to the detriment of skilled translators and interpreters who specialize, demonstrate measurable quality, and offer services beyond the raw rendering of text . As the landscape settles, we’ll gain a clearer picture of where AI helps and where it hinders. And if we stay alert to new opportunities and don’t cling to old practices for the sake of tradition, we can — and will — adapt.