FEATURE
María Scheibengraf
Co-founder and operations manager at Crisol Translation Services
As a feminist and a woman, March holds a special significance for me (as a mother too — I birthed my son on the 8th, no less). This month represents solidarity with women all around the world — a collective shout to end oppression, exploitation, and inequality. And I care deeply about justice of all sorts. It’s what set me — together with my three partners — on the path to create a translation company with a sense of purpose. A company that deliberately doesn’t call itself a translation agency in an attempt to break free of the traditional (exploitative) model. As leaders in our niche of marketing and SEO translation, we get to work with amazing brands worldwide, and we don’t need to exploit anyone to achieve or maintain success.
ACCOLADES
María Scheibengraf has a great online presence and is an expert in SEO translation, a topic that is gaining prominence by the day and in which I am very interested in much due to how she presents it. Her powerful voice and entrepreneurial spirit are an inspiration.
María is a true soldier for translators’ rights.
María really deserves this distinction as she is one of the very few voices (if not the only one) to talk openly about fair pay and practices.
I can only vote for María Scheibengraf, because she has always been my inspiration, and because it is thanks to her that I specialized in marketing translation.
She doesn’t just sit back and enjoy the fruit of her hard work, but makes a real effort to bring the issues of our industry to the table and fight unfair conditions.
She’s aware of the translation world. She’s a transparent person. And she’s a perfect example that you can succeed as a woman in whatever field you want to.
María is a woman who lives for language. Her passion spreads from her in any talk you have with her. She has managed to build a successful career in the world of translation in a short time, making herself known with her best attributes in a competitive and crowded environment.
My passion for justice and fairness is what got me a nomination to be featured in this issue, and the votes that came after. I’m forever thankful to the people who chose me because I see it as yet another opportunity to use my voice. For many years now, I’ve taken every chance to speak up unapologetically against corruption and unfair practices in the translation industry. My neurodivergent brain might be to blame, or maybe it’s just my idealist nature, but I believe in doing the right thing, especially when you’re in a position of privilege. I know I am — my social media presence has given me a huge platform to raise awareness, help novice translators position themselves effectively (my book, The SEO Translation Bible, has become a bestseller for those pursuing this specialization), and stand up to trolls.
My message is simple: We can do better. The translation industry certainly has the potential to become a truly inclusive ecosystem, where everyone has a chance to thrive. As I see it, the only three requirements for us to reach that point are a willingness of those in power — big agencies, corporate buyers, industry publications, event organizers, and more — to prioritize ethics and fairness above selfish interests; the collective action of those of us on the ground to hold them accountable; and that senior professionals in the industry mentor the next generation to develop their skills and confidence.
WEEKLY DIGEST
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