Services

Does this sound like you?

You need an interpreter but you worry your true personality won’t come across.

You want to understand exactly what the other side means – tone of voice, humor, sincerity, sarcasm… 

You want to get your complex ideas across, and delivering the "full fat" version is key - none of this "lite" version for you!

I hear you!

In these days of automated and online everything, it’s the personal touch that’s the ultimate luxury.

Someone who can accompany you every step of the way, from planning to executing your meetings, and who knows when to break bread and break the ice, and when to start breaking down the contracts.

After all, it’s the personal relationship that lays the foundation for trust.  Your personality is what your partners want to see, so they can understand if you are someone they can know, like and trust.

How can I help you?

I work as an interpreter between English and Russian, and from French into English.

I’ve worked for over 30 years with businesses, law firms, governments, international organizations and NGOs.  My experience includes everything from summits to scientific discussions, to business contracts, to international arbitration, to building nuclear power plants, to putting on a show.

I’ve ensured conversations flow smoothly during meetings at summits, in one-on-one meetings between ministers, over formal dinners, in business and treaty negotiations, and in cultural exchanges. 

Should you taste the wine?  I’ll let you know. (After all, if it's local production, they'll all be hanging on your opinion...)

Should you bring gifts for the meeting organizers?  We can figure out what’ll work best.

Can you maintain your relationships long distance?  I’ll help you set something up.

And if I don’t speak your language, it’s likely I know a professional who does.

·       Interpreting

·       oral translation

·       spoken translation

Next steps:

The first step is to book an initial consultation - let’s make sure exactly what you need!

This will include a lot of questions, so I can:

• understand your business and target audience, both for this meeting and in the long term

• pinpoint your goals and priorities

• discuss when and where you will need my services.

If we find we are a good fit, we will keep talking to get more details on:

• your sales cycle

• your concerns and issues

• your deliverables and benchmarks

• logistics information

Once the project is defined, I will find any interpreting partners needed for your meeting, and my team will:

• study your industry and your business’s place in that industry

• study documents and background you provide (draft contracts, talking points, etc.)

• research your specific terminology

• research similar texts or speakers in your field

• prepare and align our glossaries within the team

• ensure that we understand your exact goals for each specific meeting

• hire any equipment and/or technicians necessary for the meeting

• work out the logistics for the conversation

Frankly, interpreting during the meeting is the end of a longer process – which is why the sooner you bring me onto your team, the better your conversations will flow!

Testimonials

Julia goes over and above what a regular interpreter would do at a meeting. She treats every event as if it is her own, she hosts it, she holds the space for people, and makes sure that everything that needs to happen happens smoothly and easily. She has the tact and sensitivity to know when to turn on her full presence and when to become invisible.

J. Karpeisky, CPCC, PCC; executive coach for clients in cross-cultural affairs

I have known Julia for quite a few years. We have worked together on many occasions, including at an FAO meeting in Rome a couple of years ago where we manned the Russian<>English booth. Her En>Ru retour was impressive. Julia is virtually bilingual English & Russian. Her AIIC language combination is English A, Russian B and French C, but this really does not do justice to the excellence of her near-native Russian.

I have no hesitation in recommending her...

Victor Prokofiev, legally qualified professional interpreter and translator

When working with [Julia], one realizes just how much work went into developing the linguistic abilities required to offer exceptional interpreting services whilst providing clients - and organizers - with a seamless experience and the ability to remove any type of problem that may arise during a conference.

Frederick Kermisch, sales coach for private bankers

The most valuable learning experience for an interpreter in pursuit of professional development is hearing simultaneous interpretation the way it's supposed to be. Julia is not just conveying Russian into English - she was telling a story, which was interesting to hear. So sitting there and listening to her (very accurate!) interpretation through the headset was just a pleasant experience - a model to follow for all the colleagues!

Andrii Biesiedin, legal and conference interpreter, event organizer

Julia Poger’s delivery is clear, thorough and calm.  She instills in the listener full confidence as to the correct transmission of the original message.  Julia’s interpretation as a relay [for her colleagues] is particularly appreciated; not only does she process the original message elegantly and succinctly, but also her smooth delivery contributes to the relay-user’s stamina and performance in the booth.

Loreto Bravo de Urquía, Former Head, Language Services branch, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Dear Julia,

I was approached by two members of the Russian Delegation today with some very sincere words of thanks for your interpretation of the Russian statements on the very sensitive agenda item discussed this morning....

I was very pleased to hear their appreciation of your work and I would like to add my own thanks to you for your excellent and highly professional interpretation at today's ... meeting.

Best regards,

Slava

Mechislav Remishevski, then Head, Language Services branch, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Julia is an excellent interpreter... She is very professional and reliable, comes well prepared to all meetings, and is a good team player. Working with Julia has always been a very positive experience.

Laurence Viguie, Senior French Interpreter, United Nations

Julia is a highly skilled professional conference interpreter: her interpreting is not only faithful to the original, but also idiomatic, and she also conveys the tone and the nuances of the speaker which is truly outstanding. I worked with her on several occasions and took relay from her English when Russian is spoken, and her delivery has always been very clear and logical. She is indeed one of the best interpreters I have had the chance to encounter.

Angela Yin, Professional Conference Interpreter, Member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many languages do you know? 

English (people always forget we know our native language too!), Russian and French.  I work between English and Russian, and from French into English.

And while I don’t know any other languages, I do know professionals who do.

How did you learn your languages?

I grew up on the border with Quebec, so was exposed to French very early.  My parents expected us to take a foreign language as soon as it was offered, and I overcompensated:  French in grade school, Spanish in high school, Russian in university.

Isn’t interpreting just re-speaking in another language?  Don’t we just need Google to subtitle in a different language?

Not at all - first of all we don’t simply transmit words from one language to another. 

What we do is take ideas and move them from one language and culture to another.  For example, Russian has two separate words for blue - you can’t just say “blue sky,” you have to say “light blue sky.” 

Concepts don’t always overlap either.  Think about how often you have misunderstood someone speaking your own language, just because you aren’t a mind reader - this is exponentially harder when you don’t know their cultural background or education.

Why are there two or three interpreters, and not only one?

Interpreting requires an enormous amount of concentration.  We can’t focus that intensely for longer than 30 minutes without becoming fatigued and making mistakes, so we have one or two partners to make sure that we are all fresh each time we work throughout the meeting. 

Also, while we are not the interpreter on the microphone, we will be listening to the meeting, and helping our colleague who is working by finding documents or looking things up.

Now, with so many remote meetings, and so many possibilities for things to go wrong, we also need a partner for backup.

Of course, this is just if you have a meeting with two languages. For every other language you add to your meeting or event, you add on another two or three interpreters.

What good are interpreters, if the other side speaks English?

Interpreters can serve many purposes, only one of which is transmitting the message between two languages.  See 10 of the reasons why you’ll love to work with me in the article below.

Interpreters are expensive!

(OK, this isn’t a question, but…) If you haven’t brought me in early enough, it could seem that way for what you think you are getting.  But the earlier you bring me in, the more value you are able to get out of the service. 

And frankly, isn’t it better to have an expert with you for the entire journey so that you don’t waste all the hours you’ll spend on the project? If you go with the cheap (or free!) option, you’ll never know if it was your offer or your behavior that lost you the contract…

Can you guarantee we’ll get the contract?

I’m afraid that no one can do that.  But if you bring me into your team early, you will avoid the hidden minefields that will definitely lead to your contract NOT being signed! 

Also, I can let you know WHY the other side isn’t happy, and maybe in enough time so you can correct your approach...

If they bring interpreters, why do I need to worry?

There is a reason why heads of state bring their own interpreters - because they know those interpreters are part of their team.

I understand that I am a part of your team.  If you want to depend on a member of their team to get your message across when that person hasn’t been brought in on your thinking, or helped you to craft your message, then I can definitely tell you why your contract wasn’t signed!

What if we want to go somewhere you can’t/don’t want to go?

We can set up the program however you like, and make sure to include someone who will be allowed to accompany you wherever you need to go.

Do we have to drink the vodka during the toasts?

Short answer - yes.

Examples of my interpreting

Clients include: