In every localization project, two voices move the work forward: the project manager guiding the process and the vendor delivering the craft. Yet these two voices rarely speak to each other openly.
The Project Manager (PM) vs. Vendor: Team Play for Success podcast series aims to change that. In Episodes 9 through 12, the conversations deepen, revealing how human the workflow becomes when both sides finally share what they really think, feel, and need to succeed together.
Episode 9: Mad Max
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the most intense conversation happening in localization today. Everyone is talking about it, but few are talking about it from both sides. This episode does exactly that.
Vendor’s Voice (Gabriela):
My first reaction to generative AI was fear. Even in a tech-friendly household, I wondered if translators would disappear. My own mother told me that my job could vanish. But after the initial shock, I realized something important: ChatGPT is a tool, not a replacement. And when you treat it as an assistant, it can support creativity instead of replacing it. Today, I use AI selectively for brainstorming and productivity. I do not use it for client material where confidentiality or quality would be at risk. Responsible use matters.
PM’s Voice (Lucía):
AI feels like the next major transition after machine translation (MT). It is not only a translation tool — it touches workflow design, quality assurance, and project timelines. PMs must adapt to new expectations from clients who often ask if something can be done faster or cheaper because AI exists. This means PMs need to explain what AI can do and what it cannot. When vendors use AI for ideas, it is perfectly fine. When clients pay for human translation, true human work is expected.
Shared Message:
AI is not leaving our industry. The question is not whether you love it. The question is whether you understand how to use it. Responsible workflows, clear expectations, honest communication: These are the human parts that still matter most.
Episode 10: 10 Things I Hate About You
This episode is about the difficult moments vendors and PMs rarely discuss openly, such as the tasks that irritate us, the assumptions that create confusion, and the emotions no one wants to admit.
Vendor’s Voice (Gabriela):
There are days when expectations feel unrealistic, instructions arrive late, revisions come without explanation, or processes shift without warning. What frustrates vendors most is not the work itself, but the lack of context. I can adapt to a demanding task, but I struggle to guess what the PM already knows but did not share. When communication is clear, everything becomes manageable. When it is not, even simple projects feel heavy.
PM’s Voice (Lucía):
PMs feel the pressure from every direction. Deadlines, clients, internal coordination, budgets, and vendor availability. When instructions are not perfect, it is usually because things are moving fast behind the scenes. It is never done to make a vendor struggle. PMs also feel frustrated when vendors accept a job without knowing the platform or the workflow. It creates risk that we must mitigate. We want to trust vendors as much as vendors want to trust PMs.
Shared Message:
We all dislike something in this process. But most frustrations come from missing information, not bad intentions. When both sides clarify earlier and communicate honestly, resentment disappears and efficiency increases.
Episode 11: All the Gear and No Idea
Tools are supposed to make our work easier. Instead, they sometimes create tension between ability, preference, and expectation. This episode explores that reality from both sides.
Vendor’s Voice (Gabriela):
I love tools. But I also know many excellent translators who do not. Some colleagues refuse certain platforms. Some feel anxious when technology changes. And this affects workflow. PMs often assume vendors know every tool. But the truth is simpler. We can learn them, yes, but we need time and support. Tools help with productivity and quality, but they also require investment from freelancers who already manage their own business. My advice to colleagues is to keep learning; the industry moves fast, and staying still limits opportunities.
PM’s Voice (Lucía):
Tools are not always our choice either; clients impose platforms and expect everyone in the chain to use them. If a vendor refuses a tool, the PM simply cannot assign the person that specific project. It does not mean we doubt their skill. Sometimes, deadlines do not allow time for training; other times, we can give space to learn. And yes, some tools are difficult for PMs, too. Some slow down file preparation, some break imports, and some require long support chains. The burden does not fall on vendors alone.
Shared Message:
Tools are part of the job. They are not always perfect or fair, but adaptability protects opportunities, and transparency protects relationships. The more both sides understand the constraints, the smoother the collaboration becomes.
Episode 12: You and Me
Few topics generate as much confusion as the difference between PMs and vendor managers. This episode clarifies roles, expectations, and the behind-the-scenes reality that most freelancers never see.
Vendor’s Voice (Gabriela):
Freelancers often wonder why onboarding is done by a PM in one company and by a vendor manager in another. They question why rates are asked when the company already knows its target price, or why onboarding happens and then no projects appear. These situations create frustration. Sometimes, they make vendors feel invisible. We needed this episode because understanding the internal structure of language service providers (LSPs) helps vendors navigate the system with less stress.
PM’s Voice (Lucía):
Vendor managers and PMs have different responsibilities:
- Vendor managers recruit, maintain the vendor database, negotiate rates, and support vendor relations.
- PMs manage active projects, timelines, clients, risks, and deliveries.
Rates are influenced by sales decisions and profit expectations. Onboarding without immediate work happens because of timing, project cancellation, or client preference for existing vendors. None of this is personal — it is operational reality. And it affects vendor managers, too, because their work is often unused.
Shared Message:
Understanding roles reduces frustration. It is also important to understand that onboarding does not guarantee immediate work and that rates are not always controlled by one person. Vendor managers and PMs operate under constraints vendors rarely see. Transparency goes both ways, and building relationships takes time and context.
How to Tune In
Authentic collaboration still matters. Every episode of PM vs. Vendor: Team Play for Success opens a door to conversations the industry has avoided for years. If you work with people, deadlines, and language, these episodes are for you.
Listen on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@PMvsVendorTeamPlayforSuccess
Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUIbwM6IEV8PhzMG0Vtlx?si=a42c5c1104484d3b
