It was an international drug dealing case, one that involved a lot of money and a lot of violence.
It
was
an
international
drug
dealing
case
,
one
that
involved
a
lot
of
money
and
a
lot
of
violence
.
Agents who had entered the organization had worn wires and collected evidence for years.
Agents
who
had
entered
the
organization
had
worn
wires
and
collected
evidence
for
years
.
A conviction depended on an accurate translation of their tape recordings.
A
conviction
depended
on
an
accurate
translation
of
their
tape
recordings.
"Five languages were involved," says Liz Elting, 44, one of the owners of TransPerfect, the translation company chosen for the job.
``
Five
languages
were
involved
,
''
says
Liz
Elting
,
44
,
one
of
the
owners
of
TransPerfect
,
the
translation
company
chosen
for
the
job.
"The slightest mistake could mean the criminals would go free."
``
The
slightest
mistake
could
mean
the
criminals
would
go
free.
''
When Elting started her business 18 years ago with Phil Shawe, both were attending New York University's Stern School of Business.
When
Elting
started
her
business
18
years
ago
with
Phil
Shawe
,
both
were
attending
New
York
University
's
Stern
School
of
Business
.
Neither realized just how many situations would require their services.
Neither
realized
just
how
many
situations
would
require
their
services
.
TransPerfect's 4,000 linguists cover more than 100 languages.
TransPerfect
's
4,000
linguists
cover
more
than
100
languages
.
Getting Ahead with Liz Elting
Getting
Ahead
with
Liz
Elting
What inspired you to start TransPerfect?
What
inspired
you
to
start
TransPerfect
?
When I was eight, my dad bought a KFC in Portugal.
When
I
was
eight
,
my
dad
bought
a
KFC
in
Portugal
.
Unfortunately, the Portuguese didn't want anything American.
Unfortunately
,
the
Portuguese
did
n't
want
anything
American
.
They thought my dad was a CIA spy!
They
thought
my
dad
was
a
CIA
spy
!
That taught me how fast things can change.
That
taught
me
how
fast
things
can
change
.
I've studied in Spain and worked in Venezuela.
I
've
studied
in
Spain
and
worked
in
Venezuela
.
This business is the perfect combination of my love for languages, cultures and business.
This
business
is
the
perfect
combination
of
my
love
for
languages
,
cultures
and
business
.
Is the staff multilingual?
Is
the
staff
multilingual
?
Many are.
Many
are
.
I speak French and Spanish.
I
speak
French
and
Spanish
.
My partner, Phil, who is American, likes to say he speaks English on a good day.
My
partner
,
Phil
,
who
is
American
,
likes
to
say
he
speaks
English
on
a
good
day
.
What languages are requested most often?
What
languages
are
requested
most
often
?
Spanish and Japanese.
Spanish
and
Japanese
.
Chinese, Middle Eastern, Indic (South Asia), and Eastern Europeans are on the rise.
Chinese
,
Middle
Eastern
,
Indic
(
South
Asia
)
,
and
Eastern
Europeans
are
on
the
rise
.
How difficult is it to manage such a diverse workforce?
How
difficult
is
it
to
manage
such
a
diverse
workforce
?
Our challenge is to be culturally appropriate in every country.
Our
challenge
is
to
be
culturally
appropriate
in
every
country
.
When we hand our year-end bonuses in the US, for example, we have to remember that in India, bonuses are given in the fall.
When
we
hand
our
year-end
bonuses
in
the
US
,
for
example
,
we
have
to
remember
that
in
India
,
bonuses
are
given
in
the
fall
.
Any advice for someone starting a business?
Any
advice
for
someone
starting
a
business
?
Get started before you have kids.
Get
started
before
you
have
kids
.
In the beginning, I didn't know how to do this business on the side.
In
the
beginning
,
I
did
n't
know
how
to
do
this
business
on
the
side
.
I wasn't married, didn't have kids, and wasn't concerned about balancing my work and personal life.
I
was
n't
married
,
did
n't
have
kids
,
and
was
n't
concerned
about
balancing
my
work
and
personal
life
.
Now, with strong managers in place, I can spend more time with my family (husband Michael Burlant and sons Zachary, nine and Jacob, seven), traveling and playing baseball.
Now
,
with
strong
managers
in
place
,
I
can
spend
more
time
with
my
family
(
husband
Michael
Burlant
and
sons
Zachary
,
nine
and
Jacob
,
seven
)
,
traveling
and
playing
baseball
.
It was an international drug dealing case, one that involved a lot of money and a lot of violence. Agents who had entered the organization had worn wires and collected evidence for years. A conviction depended on an accurate translation of their tape recordings. "Five languages were involved," says Liz Elting, 44, one of the owners of TransPerfect, the translation company chosen for the job. "The slightest mistake could mean the criminals would go free."  When Elting started her business 18 years ago with Phil Shawe, both were attending New York University's Stern School of Business. Neither realized just how many situations would require their services. TransPerfect's 4,000 linguists cover more than 100 languages.  Getting Ahead with Liz Elting  What inspired you to start TransPerfect?  When I was eight, my dad bought a KFC in Portugal. Unfortunately, the Portuguese didn't want anything American. They thought my dad was a CIA spy! That taught me how fast things can change. I've studied in Spain and worked in Venezuela. This business is the perfect combination of my love for languages, cultures and business.  Is the staff multilingual?  Many are. I speak French and Spanish. My partner, Phil, who is American, likes to say he speaks English on a good day.  What languages are requested most often?  Spanish and Japanese. Chinese, Middle Eastern, Indic (South Asia), and Eastern Europeans are on the rise.  How difficult is it to manage such a diverse workforce?  Our challenge is to be culturally appropriate in every country. When we hand our year-end bonuses in the US, for example, we have to remember that in India, bonuses are given in the fall. Any advice for someone starting a business?  Get started before you have kids. In the beginning, I didn't know how to do this business on the side. I wasn't married, didn't have kids, and wasn't concerned about balancing my work and personal life. Now, with strong managers in place, I can spend more time with my family (husband Michael Burlant and sons Zachary, nine and Jacob, seven), traveling and playing baseball.