Continuing on with the ELIA Board of Directors interview series: next up is Maii Abdel-Wahab, Business Relationship Manager at Arabize.
In this series, we get to know the personal and professional journeys of our new 2025 Board Members who started their term at ELIA Networking Days in Budapest. We’ll explore their roles within their companies, and learn more about how they contribute to their ELIA committees.
Maii’s journey in languages and communication started in counseling, giving her a passion for culture, emotions, and traditions. Now, Maii brings her skills to the ELIA Board of Directors as Treasurer, as well as to the Membership and Feedback Committee.
What was the most unexpected job or role you’ve had before joining the language services industry, and how did it shape your career?
I was a counselor in an international youth camp for teenagers called Seeds of Peace. This experience made me look at communication and languages with a very wide perspective and understand more and more what the phrase “Lost in translation” meant. Now I work everyday with the belief that language is way beyond the few words we speak; language is culture, traditions, emotions and everything in between.
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?
Before Covid when we used to work fully from the office, we had internal “social clubs” in the company; we had days where there were after hour activities such as sports, movie nights, video games, game nights, book club and even knitting and photography clubs. These kinds of activities brought the team closer and it was more like a family environment even though we were a team of 100 employees. Not just that it was fun, but made working during stressful times bearable, and lots of things that seemed impossible were achieved despite the challenges, all thanks to the unity feeling. Even now when we are mostly working from home, the team members that are still with the company have that same shared value, and that is how we keep going. Sharing fun times and work times.
Tell us about the ELIA committee you lead. What’s its main goal and why is it important for the industry?
I am part of the Executive Committee as Treasurer and also responsible for the Membership Committee. Well, in my point of view they are both closely related. The treasury keeps track of the financials that come from the events and memberships and also the expenditure that goes to events or other initiatives ELIA is doing. And the membership is all about the benefits the members receive from their membership and also working on attracting more members.
My objective in these two roles, as well as all the board, is to maintain ELIA’s sustainable status in terms of members and financials so we can keep serving the community and the industry and remain the one association that unites European LSPs under one umbrella of learning and development.
Networking Days 2025 marked the first event gathering our new Board. Do you have any special memories or particular moments from the event you would like to share?
The event was spectacular not just as it was my first time as a board and seeing behind the scenes how things work; but also as it marked the 20th anniversary and having all past board members there; this was very inspiring and a push forward that ignited my passion towards this association even more to keep going and try do the best I can in my new role.
On a personal note, I was grateful to have my mum (and CEO) there as my ultimate support companion; who if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t have made it to this conference this time, as I had my baby and she agreed to babysit for me during the conference. 🙂
Once again, welcome to the Board, Maii.
Name: Maii Abdel-Wahab
Company: Arabize
Company LinkedIn
From counselling to the language industry, Maii’s path is a great reminder that communication is more than words. What part of her story spoke to you most? Join the conversation on LinkedIn!
