As a certified translator and business owner with a passion for mentorship, Virginia Katsimpiri has helped hundreds of freelance linguists worldwide attract high-quality, international clients. Here, she describes her 15-year career and her goals for the decade to come.
Why do you enjoy reading MultiLingual magazine?
It’s the best and most comprehensive language-related magazine nowadays. I love the fact that it always includes a variety of topics and covers areas from all over the world, including the latest trends and tech developments in our industry. The section I always look for and read is the Buyer’s Guide, as it is a great guide to associations, conferences, language service providers (LSPs), and payment automation and recruitment experts. As a beginner, it was a great source of LSPs to apply to as a freelance translator and later as a list with the best LSPs to look up to while growing a boutique agency.
How did you get involved in the translation business?
I studied foreign languages, translation, and interpreting at the Ionian University and graduated as a certified translator in 2007. I was hired before I even graduated as an in-house translator. When the financial crisis hit Greece, I left the in-house position and started working as a freelance translator from home. In 2014, I initiated my own business at the center of Athens with the brand name “VTranslations | Certified Business Translation Specialists,” which I still grow as a CEO.
In 2016, I got certified as a life coach and created the first voluntary mentorship programs for the Panhellenic Association of Graduate Professional Translators of the Ionian University (PEEMPIP). In 2020, I founded vmentoring.com, the first business mentorship platform for freelance language professionals. It helps colleagues and agencies from all over the world to build and grow their profitable businesses and reach five-figure months and beyond. I’m also the proud creator of the Fully Booked Translator Formula: a 12-week business mentoring program for language professionals.
Since you entered the translation industry, how has the business landscape changed?
It is very sad to see that early-career translators still face the same difficulties that we did 17 years ago entering the market. Even though there are so many online resources nowadays, they still don’t know how to write a proper CV or how to attract high-quality clients. Rates are still the same here in Greece, at least.
Regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and technology developments, the situation is widely known, though I still remember when I announced to my family that I would like to study translation and they told me, “Why study something that will soon be replaced by Google Translate?” I’m still waiting for Google Translate to take my work… LOL.
Could you share your experience working with your first client or on your first project?
My first client as a freelancer was my last employer, as I started out as an in-house translator; so, it was a smooth collaboration due to the past employment. I won’t forget though the first time I was assigned a project earning in a week my monthly income and of course my first five-figure project.
Do you believe it’s a good time to enter the translation business?
If I were starting out now, I probably wouldn’t choose the same direction — something more tech-related would be more promising now given AI. So, I cannot answer if there is a wrong or right time to enter a business. The translation industry is among those that are seeing a rise during a crisis, which means there is work for all of us still. Though it is not a profession someone would choose to study for its profitability, I would advise someone to choose it only if they have the required linguistic skills and passion.
Where do you see yourself professionally in the next 10 years?
Growing my two businesses — vtranslations.gr and vmentoring.com — even more. Hiring more people to build a strong team while I work on projects I love and doing well having enough time to practice my mentoring sessions internationally as I already do. Completing my PhD and contributing to the international literature is also included on the list.
What predictions do you have for the future of the translation industry?
I don’t really like to make predictions, but I would say it is obvious that AI is here to stay. New translators will need to have more tech-related skills in comparison to older generations, and as a result more and more freelance language professionals will turn to direct clients instead of LSPs. Thus, more marketing skills will be needed. We will be here to see it anyway.
