Embracing inclusive language and cultural agility at conferences

Are you always in tune with your audience? Embracing inclusive language and cultural agility at conferences and with clients.

Recently, I have been thinking about how times have changed and what was acceptable – or expected – just a few years ago may not feel the same now.

One example of this is how audience members at conferences are addressed. The traditional approach of a “Ladies and Gentlemen” now seems very antiquated; modern-day global audiences are likely to have a much more rich – and less binary – identity.

So perhaps conference speakers could consider an alternative approach with a less gender-specific connotation, for example, “Esteemed guests”, “Honoured delegates” or “Respected Attendees”, may be more appropriate: despite being tremendously formal, in their favour they denote no assumptions as to gender and therefore may create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all involved. For more relaxed occasions, speakers could perhaps use a simple “Hello, everyone” or a straightforward “Good morning/good afternoon”. It’s an easy but thoughtful change which ensures that everyone is included and recognised. As a conference interpreter it is something I will be paying close attention to in future.

Of course, language is more than just words. The language you choose and how you use it can deeply affect every situation, so understanding what is culturally acceptable and adapting accordingly is a sensible approach to adopt.

For example, when starting a business relationship with a new client I feel it’s always essential to understand the cultural nuances and local conventions. Is it appropriate to use first names or titles? Is it deemed acceptable to interrupt the other person’s sentence? Are there any questions that might be considered rude?

Making a mistake in any of these areas could put an abrupt halt to your business opportunities along with potentially causing offence to your client.

A shift in language doesn’t just change the words we speak; it transforms the atmosphere of conferences and meetings into a space that embraces everyone. I am all for making my words reflect an inclusive spirit that I feel is right to aspire to foster.

So how do you ensure that your language choices are correct and that you are always inclusive and embracing of all cultures and genders? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

Business Travel this June

This month for me will be quite London-centric. I have some interesting events at which to work, some in Canary Wharf and others in the city.

London, of course, is my home so I will enjoy the easy commute to these assignments. One of these is a European Works Council meeting, of which I have many years’ experience, so I am well equipped to handle the dynamics and intricacies of such meetings. Understanding the importance of cross-cultural understanding and constructive dialogue are all key to a successful EWC meeting, and I look forward to this assignment, making it an impactful and valuable event.

This EWC meeting is for a leading pharmaceutical company. Pharmaceuticals is an industry in which I have had many years of interpreting experience, and I have carried out remote simultaneous interpreting for training programmes, presentations, conferences and meetings for organisations including Pfizer, GSK, Novartis, Astrazeneca, to name but a few.

Another London-based June event will be facilitating the successful launch of an Italian medical marketing company’s UK subsidiary. Acting as the bridge between the UK and Italy, my role will be important in enabling effective communication and fostering collaboration during this event. I aim to ensure that the exchange of ideas, strategies and insights between the Italian company and their UK counterpart is seamless and that a productive and inclusive environment is created. Here’s to long-term growth between the two countries.

I’m looking forward to an assignment at an event at The Gherkin which is, of course, a fabulous structure with amazing views and facilities. The event is focusing on advancements within the cosmetics industry and will no doubt be an educational experience for me as well. With all assignments I undertake, preparation is key, but for this particular conference, I will be ensuring my medical vocabulary for the specific interventions is up to speed and thoroughly prepared.

In addition, this specific event involves both interpreting and project management, so I have been integral in arranging the technical aspects of the event for my client. Acting as a single point of contact for the client, I’ve been coordinating all necessary equipment, guaranteeing optimal audio-support for the event so my client can cater for a diverse audience.

And there is nothing to truly fear, as whilst AI can certainly improve processes and speed up outputs, it cannot fully replace human interpreters, as interpreting involves more than language translation. Understanding the nuances of different cultures, interpreting non-verbal cues and adapting to unexpected situations are all aspects that AI is not capable of – yet.

Project management is an aspect of my work that I carry out increasingly frequently, as clients trust that as a professional with many years of experience, I understand and have contacts to fulfil their technical interpreting requirements. The project management service usually starts with a full briefing meeting in which I can find out the parameters of the requirements, and then I can advise on certain aspects of the project – for example, how many interpreters I believe may be required, the type of interpreting to be undertaken or the technical requirements for the event to run seamlessly. My clients can then leave this side of the project with me whilst I organise interpreters and equipment with my contacts, safe in the knowledge that everything will run smoothly on the day. I find it hugely satisfying to work on a project like this, where I am involved from conception through to successful conclusion.

My months are rarely quiet and June will be no exception – I also have a three-day hearing at which I will be interpreting. This is an arbitration case relating to a breach of contract. Legal services, both in-person and virtual, are an area in which I have years of experience and I have attended court hearings, interpreted for witness statements and carried out many other interpreting roles for legal proceedings.

I will be travelling back to Helsinki (where I spent some time in May working for a client in the automotive sector) this month and look forward to working with my client there again. I can confirm that Helsinki was a fascinating city and did not disappoint. It was particularly warm, too, which was quite unexpected.

June also brings with it a visit to Berlin for an assignment which is always such a brilliant city and a joy to work in! An interesting fact I came across about Berlin –which I suspect might be new information to many readers as it was to me – is that Berlin has more bridges than Venice! Berlin is built around the River Spree and its numerous waterways are interconnected by over 1700 bridges. Next time you’re in Berlin, see how many you cross in a day! (There are a comparatively few 391 bridges in Venice in case you were wondering!)

What do you have planned for June? I’d love to hear about projects you have in the pipeline and business travel.

To find out more about my project management services click here

The Italian dolce vita

As we enter into summer, I’m often asked for my travel destination recommendations for Italy. So, with my travel agent hat on, if I were to choose anywhere in Italy to head to for a summer vacation, I would choose the Amalfi Coast. Have you been there?

I wholeheartedly recommend spending time embracing this extraordinary part of Italy. The coastline is mesmerising – an aquamarine stretch of paradise with breathtaking cliffs cascading into the sparkling waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. There are pastel-hued villages dotted along the rugged coastline, each offering a unique blend of history, culture and Mediterranean allure. From the world-renowned town of Positano with its romantic connotations to the historic town of Amalfi and its magnificent Duomo, the Amalfi coast truly captures the essence of the uniquely Italian dolce vita.

But don’t just take my word for it – book a vacation there if you can and let me know what you think! Of course, I adore Sicily too and there are so many other amazing destinations in Italy to visit, but time is short to mention them all this month!

Speaking of the holiday season, did you know that June is National Ice Cream Month? As an Italian, I absolutely adore gelato. Do you know the difference between gelato and ice cream?

Whilst ice cream and gelato may seem similar, they have their delicious differences. Gelato offers a velvety smooth texture and intense flavours that will transport your tastebuds straight to Italy! With less air churned into it, gelato is denser and creamier than ice cream. Maybe this June you could double your frozen treat fun by savouring both ice cream and gelato and let your taste buds decide which creamy delight reigns supreme!