Every great podcast conversation feels like a reality check wrapped in inspiration. That’s exactly what happens in Localization Today when host Eddie Arrieta sits down with Teresa Toronjo, Localization Manager at Malt. With over a decade of experience across Workday, KLOOK, and now Malt, Teresa brings a candid perspective on how lean teams can harness AI and automation without losing the human heart of localization.

👉 Don’t just read about it—listen to From Machine to Meaning: Malt’s AI-Driven Localization right here.

Lean Teams, Big Impact

At Malt, localization isn’t a large department—it’s Teresa. But her point is clear: “Lean doesn’t mean alone.” By collaborating directly with marketing, legal, compliance, and product teams, she’s turned a one-person function into a company-wide strategic driver.

Her approach relies on a hybrid workflow: instant machine translation to speed up time-to-market, followed by human review to ensure quality, nuance, and cultural resonance. For Malt’s marketing team, that shift has meant saying goodbye to endless copy-paste cycles and hello to streamlined automation. The result? Faster releases, fewer errors, and happier teams.

The Human Edge in AI

Teresa is quick to remind us that automation doesn’t erase the role of translators—it reshapes it. Machines can handle the repetitive work, but humans bring empathy, creativity, and cultural depth. “If you want to be the Michelin star of localization, you can’t cut corners,” she explains. “You still need humans to make the content feel alive.”

From setting KPIs like “error-free requests” and “time to market” to leading conversations on quality, Teresa shows how localization can move from cost center to strategic partner. Her message to translators and managers alike is simple: don’t fear AI, use it to elevate your work.

Want more stories like this? Discover other episodes of Localization Today on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or directly at Localization Today online.