Unlock Your Global Career Potential with Language Skills! (recap & recording)

Quick recap

The meeting involved a discussion about the ALC Bridge initiative, its origins, and its purpose in addressing the challenge of a lack of global talent in the language services industry. The speakers also shared their personal journeys, career paths, and experiences in the industry, emphasizing the importance of passion, differentiation, and skills. The conversation ended with a discussion on the growth and opportunities in the language services industry, the importance of understanding the professional world before venturing into entrepreneurship, and the potential for software engineers to find work in the language services market. Learn more by watching the recording and reading the recap summary.

ALC Bridge Initiative Overview

Kathleen, the chair of the ALC Bridge, discussed the initiative’s origins and its purpose. The ALC Bridge is a platform designed for employers seeking skilled language talent, educators to develop practical skill-based language courses, and career seekers to identify and explore jobs in the language services industry.

Language Service Industry Growth Opportunities

John, a former Corporate Executive Board employee now working in the language service industry, discussed the industry’s growth and potential opportunities for linguists and entrepreneurs. He highlighted the industry’s rapid growth, projected to double every 10 years, and its projected value of $95 billion by 2028. John also emphasized the importance of human communication and problem-solving skills in the industry, despite the presence of AI and other technologies.

Passion, Differentiation, and Skills in Industry

Camilo Munoz, who was originally from Columbia and attended the University of Florida, discussed the importance of passion, differentiation, and skills in the language industry. He emphasized the need for passion in the industry, highlighting its positive impact and the opportunities it presents. He also stressed the importance of differentiation, noting that the industry is becoming more competitive due to globalization and the need to adapt to technological advancements. Camilo advised the attendees to invest in themselves, particularly in leadership, relationships, and creativity, as these skills are unlikely to be replaced by AI or automation.

Exploring Small Business Job Opportunities

Giovanni, an Italian immigrant and entrepreneur, discussed the importance of considering small businesses and non-household name companies for job opportunities. He emphasized that while half of all jobs are with Fortune 500 companies or the US government, these only account for a small percentage of all companies. Giovanni shared his personal journey, from being a financial advisor to founding a successful language services company and highlighted his company’s recent accolades. He stressed the importance of providing a rewarding environment for employees and delivering quality services to clients.

Language Services Industry Growth and Opportunities

Giovanni discussed the growth and opportunities in the language services industry. He highlighted that the industry has grown from $23 billion in 2009 to $70 billion today and is expected to double in size in the next seven years. Giovanni emphasized that the industry is almost recession-proof, having survived the 2008 crash and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also pointed out that there is a shortage of language skills in the industry, with one in three foreign language-dependent companies reporting a skills gap. Giovanni introduced the Nimdzi Language Technology Atlas, a resource that categorizes over 800 different software packages in the language services industry that students could familiarize themselves with for skill building.

Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics, and Language Services

Giovanni discussed the importance of understanding the professional world before venturing into entrepreneurship. He shared his personal experience of starting a business too early and working two jobs for eight years. He recommended that students first gain knowledge and experience in their chosen field before considering entrepreneurship. Giovanni also highlighted the value of data analytics in the language services market, suggesting that students with a background in software engineering could find opportunities in this field. Camilo and Kathleen added to the discussion, emphasizing the importance of supply and demand in the language industry and the potential for software engineers to find work in the language services market.

By Edwina Hurst
Edwina Hurst Manager