Persistence and Empowerment in Translation with Ludmila Golovine

Here we are, folks: yet another episode of Merging Minds with one of our industry's top leaders joining Javi Diaz for a wonderful conversation on leadership, creativity and a whole lot more.

This time, we've had the honor of talking to Ludmila Golovine, founder of MasterWord and a towering figure in the Translation industry. With over three decades of experience, Mila - as Javi kindly calls her - shares a wealth of experience on an episode you wouldn't want to miss.

Cutting iron with stories

Ludmila’s journey into the world of languages began as a childhood dream. At just 12 (!), while growing up behind the Iron Curtain, Ludmila was already envisioning her future as a translator. 

Unlike many who find their way into the industry by chance, she pursued translation with intention and vigor, driven by a desire to access and share the wealth of stories and knowledge that were restricted in her youth.

"We didn't have access to books, (...) we only had very, very controlled access to limited information. I wanted to read other books. So I wanted to translate stories, that was my childhood dream."

"We just don't know how"

And reflecting on challenges like that, Ludmila’s philosophy shines through. She can't help but view obstacles as opportunities for growth and innovation. When asked about moments of doubt, she confidently states that the thought of giving up never crossed her mind.

"And I think that's kind of like a difference between, in a way, success and failure. So the thought of I'm never going to make it never entered my mind. There was like always like we're making it. We just don't know how."

That seems to be one of the guiding forces between the big names in Loc who Javi got to talk to: resilience. From changing industry gears to breaking the industry mold, most would agree that facing challenges head-on is the way to go.

Which relates to Ludmila’s commitment to empowerment, particularly within the gender dynamics of corporate leadership. Her efforts extend beyond just advocating for women; MasterWord’s workforce is a testament to that.

Looking beyond

When it comes to what's ahead of our industry, Ludmila says she's optimistic about AI in localization. Instead of seeing technological advancements as a threat, she sees them as enhancements to propel the industry forward - much like how innovations in transportation revolutionized travel and commerce.

"We get accustomed to certain things, but change brings challenge and challenge brings growth. So we're evolving right now. We're kind of like at this next evolution of things. And I think AI is here to stay. Obviously, AI is here to stay. But I don't think AI is going to displace our industry. I think AI is going to put our industry on steroids."

We can definitely get behind Mila's point here. To quote one of our CEO's Gabriel Fairman latest think pieces:

"Gen AI in translation is currently closer to a robot that assists a surgeon granting them unprecedented levels of precision and control than it is to anything that will render translators less important or irrelevant."

What is your legacy?

Now to the million dollar question, though Mila already had her answer on the trigger:

"I think having as many people around me succeed as possible. So how many people, how do you define success, you know, at the end of the day? And to me, success is how many lives have you touched in a positive way? So that's the biggest thing. And it can be one life, but it can mean a lot for that person, right?"

For those inspired by Ludmila’s journey, her advice is straightforward and powerful: start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can. It’s about making the most of every opportunity and continuously striving for improvement.

Be sure to stick around for future episodes and other stories like Ludmila's!