Welcome to our new interview series with the ELIA Board of Directors! In this series, we’ll get to know the personal and professional journeys of our board members, explore their roles within their companies, and learn more about how they contribute to their ELIA committees.
Our next feature is Dorothy Scerri, Business Development Manager at Global Translation Solutions Limited. Dorothy shares her fascinating journey from her first job to her impactful role in the language services industry and offers insights into her work on the ELIA Membership Committee.
Can you tell us the story of your career journey using five emojis, and explain how each one represents a key moment or aspect of your professional life?
🍟✍️🌍🇮🇹🛳
🍟2006 – My first job was in a fast food restaurant. That was back in 2006. Although it lasted only 3 months, this job marked my official entry into the professional world, teaching me the basics of employment, including punctuality, teamwork, customer service skills, work ethic, time management, and problem-solving.
✍️2006 -2011 My first language-related job was as a proofreader. The client at the time required me to print the manuscripts and mark the errors on paper, in handwriting, using the Vademecum Rules. We’ve gone through significant and positive progress since then!
🌍 The globe represents the first GTS logo that happened to have a globe on it. In January 2012, I was selected as one of the GTS internal staff for a 50-50 role between project management and translation. In 2013, I was promoted to Office and Procurement Manager and I started working on my first international bids. Over the years, I have taken on various roles, contributing to significant projects and initiatives that have driven the company’s growth and success. I also started to travel for business matters for the first time. My journey at GTS has been marked by continuous professional development, collaborative teamwork, and a commitment to delivering high-quality solutions to our diverse client base.
🇮🇹 In 2014, my first ELIA conference and of course it had to be ND in Tuscany. From there on, I started attending ELIA conferences on a regular basis and my network of international friends started to expand. Little did I know, however, that eventually I would find myself on the ELIA Board of Directors in 2022.
🛳 The boat represents my commitment to the ELIA Board and its members, symbolizing unity, common purposes, and shared direction. Regardless of our roles, we are all on board, working together cohesively towards common goals and overcoming challenges. This sense of community propels us forward. This journey is about us as a community committed towards the members’ wellbeing. As an islander, in the end, I have to choose a water element somehow!
What’s a little-known fun fact about your company that even industry insiders might be surprised to learn? How does this unique aspect reflect your company’s culture or mission?
Although we are based in the tiny island of Malta, our internal staff is multilingual and multicultural with different nationalities from around the world: Malta, Gozo, Ukraine, Sicily, Hungary, South America, and Lithuania. It’s a 50-50 between Maltese and the rest of the world. Sometimes we still speak in Maltese at the office (when the foreign staff is not present) and most of our internal foreign staff are currently taking Maltese classes as well!
Tell us about the ELIA committee or initiative you lead. What’s its main goal and why is it important for the industry?
As part of the ELIA Membership Committee, together with Maii Abdel-Wahab, we are committed to fostering a strong, engaged community within the European Language Industry Association. Our main goal is to enhance the value of ELIA membership by providing meaningful benefits, promoting networking opportunities, and ensuring that our members feel supported and connected within the industry whilst making sure ELIA pursues a healthy growth in its member base.
There are a lot of plans and projects in the pipeline that we would like to start implementing within this committee.
Above all, our mission is to serve as the voice of our members, and this will only be possible if we work closer to the members and listen to their feedback to better understand their expectations and welcome any suggestions. We will be speaking to many of you in the coming months!
Name: Dorothy Scerri
Company: Global Translation Solutions Limited
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