Everyone talks about “AI transforming translation and or interpretation” but most agencies still manage their work with emails, spreadsheets, or generic CRMs. Without structure, AI has nothing to build on — you can’t automate chaos.
In this talk, I will share lessons from building Lingsom, a platform for interpreter and translator management that shows how real innovation can happen before AI. I'll discuss how structured workflows, automation, and data discipline make agencies faster, safer, and actually ready for the next wave of technology. Together we’ll ask: can you really leapfrog to AI, or do you first need to clean up the groundwork?

Sohrab Gebraeil is the founder and lead developer of Lingsom, a web-based interpretation and translation management system used by language service providers across the Nordic region. He focuses on practical innovation — automating routine work so professionals can focus on quality. Sohrab is also an active member of Polaris Language Services in Finland, a company providing interpretation and translation for public sector clients such as the police, courts, municipalities, and healthcare institutions. His close involvement with Polaris ensures that Lingsom continually evolves in line with real market needs and the day-to-day challenges of the language industry.

Present-day speech analytics toolkits which serve as measurement instuments for speech pace, location and determination of frequency of hesitation pauses, time-fillers and false starts in a particular speaker’s speech delivery process, are also helpful in assessing which translation patterns are used by simultaneous interpreters and identifying those contexts when compression and decompression are naturally used. Given this, the objective of our study was to compare results of the acoustic analysis of speech samples from the accumulated corpus through Praat speech analytics toolkit and the types of choices made by simultaneous interpreters and the frequency of compression and decompression strategies. The empirical material includes samples of Russian-to-English and English-to-Russian simultaneous interpretation of public speeches by prominent speakers (overall 200 parallel contexts of audio files in the source language and their simultaneous interpretation into the target language) which were further analyzed with Praat speech analytics toolkit. The metrics obtained provide comprehensive description of speech characteristics of a speaker in the source language which are believed to determine the choices made by simultaneous interpreters in terms of compression and decompression.

Ksenia S. Kardanova-Biryukova is a researcher and senior lecturer on linguistics and translation studies with the Institute of Foreign Languages at Moscow City University (Moscow, Russia). As of today, she teaches psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, contrastive typology of the languages and cognitive and neurosciences for undergraduate and graduate students as well as performs administrative functions as head of the department of linguistics and translation studies. She has a PhD in linguistics (PhD, 2006 and Doctorate, 2022). Her key areas of expertise include psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics, translation and interpreting techniques, linguistic tools and research methods.

As AI translations get better, clients will look to save money by using them. And they're right. But the human touch is still invaluable. The sweet spot is human-AI collaboration that creates high-quality content quickly and easily. Here's how I do this as a writer, and how you can do it too.

Hadassah Levy has been a digital marketer since 2004, before the title even existed! She specializes in content writing, social media marketing and content management, with a little bit of WordPress development, PPC and SEO thrown in for good measure. She works with clients around the world and focuses primarily on websites with Jewish content. She's never said no to a chance to speak and has presented at Temech, Megacomm, ITA and more.

In today's competitive language services market, technical skills alone aren't enough to break into lucrative specialized niches. This intensive program teaches you how to strategically position yourself as the go-to expert in your chosen specialization—whether that's legal translation, medical devices, fintech, sustainability reporting, or emerging tech sectors.

What You'll Master:

Through our proven Authority Bridge Framework™, you'll learn to identify your unique positioning within your target niche, craft compelling messages that resonate with your ideal clients, and systematically build visibility where decision-makers are paying attention.

Strategic Specialization: Discover how to niche down effectively without limiting opportunities. Learn to own a specific corner of the translation market that commands premium rates and exclusive projects—from AI ethics documentation to clinical trial protocols.

Podcast Guesting Mastery: Master the art of securing and delivering high-impact podcast interviews on industry shows relevant to your niche. We provide pitch templates, talking points frameworks, and media training specifically for language professionals targeting new sectors.

Conference Speaking Strategy: From abstract submission to stage presence, learn how to land speaking slots at major industry conferences (LocWorld, ATA, GALA, plus niche-specific events) and deliver presentations that establish your authority and generate business opportunities.

Content Authority Building: Create thought leadership content that positions you as the translator who "gets" your industry—without becoming a subject matter expert yourself.

Outcome: Within 90 days, position yourself as a recognized authority in your chosen niche with a clear roadmap for ongoing visibility and client attraction.
Perfect for experienced translators ready to command premium rates in specialized markets.

Jason Willis-Lee is a Medical Translator with 25 years of experience, specializing in Spanish-English and French-English translations for clinical trials, medical reports and academic research.

With a background in medicine, including over three years at Bristol Medical School including hospital training, Jason brings a unique understanding of medical terminology and the high standards of the life sciences industry.

In addition to his translation expertise, Jason is passionate about helping freelance translators navigate the evolving AI-powered market. Through strategic guidance on client acquisition, personal branding, quiz marketing and email list-building, he empowers freelancers to increase their online visibility and build lasting client relationships.

Jason is also a dedicated trainer, offering online courses such as How to Find More Direct Clients and hosting the Freelancer Training on How to Find More Direct Clients Podcast. He also cofounded Medico-Legal Translations and is based in Madrid, Spain. Learn more about Jason at www.jasonwillislee.com and www.entrepreneurialtranslator.com.

Jason Willis-Lee
ES/FR to EN Medical Translator
Spanish > English & French > English | Clinical Trials, Medical Reports & Academic Research

As a medical translator with 25 years of experience, I specialize in delivering precise, high-stakes translations for clinical trials, medical reports and academic research. My background as a former medic, including three years at Bristol Medical School and over one year’s hospital training, equips me with a unique understanding of medical terminology and the rigorous standards of the life sciences industry.

Beyond translation, I am also committed to championing freelance translators in navigating the challenges of the AI-powered marketplace. I combine linguistic precision with strategic expertise to help translators:
• Attract direct clients in a competitive environment.
• Build a standalone online presence through unique personal branding, quiz marketing and email list-building techniques.
• Foster durable client relationships that adapt to technological advancements while maintaining the indispensable value of human expertise.
Through actionable frameworks, including lead-generation quizzes and targeted email marketing strategies, I empower language professionals to thrive by increasing visibility, driving traffic and crafting sales and marketing funnels that convert.
If you're seeking a translator or trainer who delivers reliable results or a trainer who provides proven strategies for freelance success, let’s collaborate to attain your goals. Together, we can shape a future where human translators flourish in tandem with AI innovation.

Academic Background
Jason graduated with a BSc Hons in Physiology after completing over three years of medical training at Bristol Medical School (UK), including one year of hospital work. After a brief stint as a clinical research associate, he then earned a postgraduate qualification in translating and interpreting from the University of Bath (UK).
Now based in Madrid, Jason specializes in Spanish-English (ITI certified) and French-English translation. He co-founded Medico-Legal Translations (www.medicolegaltranslations.com) and is an active translator trainer, giving presentations and running courses such as the How to Find More Direct Clients online program. He also hosts the How to Find More Direct Clients Podcast, which provides actionable advice for early-career linguists.