Navigating Changes In The Language Management Industry With Coral Diez-Carbajo

The language management industry has seen a profound transformation in recent years, particularly with the rapid rise of AI. In a recent episode of Top Voices, we welcomed Coral Diez-Carbajo, GenAI Solutions Strategist at Acclaro, for a deep dive into how the industry is evolving and how leaders are responding.

 

A career built on curiosity and language

 

Coral traced her journey from a childhood spent in her grandfather’s bookstore to her current strategic role in language technology. “That’s how I discovered I loved words,” she explained.

Her love for languages led her into translation studies. While she initially considered interpreting, she quickly realized her strengths lay elsewhere: “As soon as I tried it, I realized I did not like that.”

Instead, she gravitated towards research. “I started to research how users would experience and interact with post-editing… very, very early days,” she said, referring to her 2014 academic work. A practical turn came when she needed income and began working as a post-editor.

Her proactive engagement soon caught the attention of her manager, who invited her to drive change at a strategic level.

“I was pestering my manager with recommendations… my project manager said, ‘Would you like to help us drive this change?‘”

 

Strategy over specialism

 

Now a strategist rather than a hands-on specialist, Coral emphasized the importance of seeing the bigger picture: “When you are an expert in something, you know that one thing. The strategy part allows you to see all the other different pieces and put everything together.”

Her role, she explained, is not just about implementing tools like machine translation or AI, but understanding when, where, and how they add value:

“Whatever you suggest has to make sense to everybody: the company, the customer, and the people working with it.”

 

AI: expansion, not replacement

 

Coral urged listeners to consider AI not as a threat but as an opportunity. “AI has opened new services… It’s like if we were clay artists. Our clay is words. We used to make pots, now we can make statues, mugs, all kinds of things.”

She clarified that while machine translation still has a place, AI technologies were creating parallel, complementary services.

“At this point, I see machine translation as a service, and all the other services that AI is opening are living together in the same space.”

 

Human-centred change management

 

One of Coral’s strongest convictions was the need to guide people through technological change gently. “The easiest and fastest way to lose people’s attention is to overwhelm them,” she said.

Her solution? Clear, simple explanations and safe spaces to explore new tools.

“If you simplify concepts, people will understand. If they understand, they’ll get along with it, and maybe even like it eventually.”

She also acknowledged the anxieties of colleagues and freelancers alike.

“There’s a lot of effort needed in explaining things to people; internal employees, external freelancers, investors, everybody.”

 

Dealing with AI hype

 

Coral noted that many clients had overestimated AI’s readiness:

“They’re wowed by a feature… and then they get to see it, and they’re not wowed anymore, they’re crying on a Friday night.”

She viewed this as part of a natural learning curve.

“It is a journey. If you don’t see the limitations, it’s very easy to follow the magic.”

 

Leadership, learning, and empathy

 

Asked about fostering professional development, Coral advocated for constant learning, resource sharing, and communication:

“You cannot know everything. If not, you will only learn, you will not have time to teach, implement, or create anything tangible.”

Coral also spoke passionately about soft skills.

“We keep upskilling in our craft, but we forget about communication, strategic thinking, leadership…Those are often forgotten but key for managing teams and driving change.”

 

Creating space to grow

 

She had also taken the initiative to build a community for translators working remotely, called Translation Nomads. It featured a mascot, tips on mental health, and practical exercises to help translators stay connected and supported.

“I created this safe space for translators… everybody’s very disconnected, so it was a way to build something for them.”

 

Looking ahead with balance

 

Despite her strategic focus on technology, Coral maintained a strong emphasis on personal well-being. She credited yoga, meditation, and boxing as outlets to switch off and recharge.

“Disconnecting helps… You cannot imagine how many good ideas I had while boxing.”

Asked about the future, she remained open.

“Maybe life surprises me and I find something else that catches my attention. But I do love what I do.”

As the language industry continues its transformation, voices like Coral’s are vital. Her ability to blend empathy with technical insight and her commitment to clarity over hype offer a valuable compass for anyone navigating the shifting sands of global communication.

 

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