Belinda: Localization Professional Leading with German

Meet Belinda—a German-speaking Account Manager in the Localization sector.

You don’t need to pick the ‘right’ language to study nor do you need to follow economic or market trends: Just find what language, culture, or history interests you and dive in.

Languages: German and English

Grew Up In: Seven Mile, Ohio

College & Degrees Held: University of Cincinnati – Bachelor's degree in German; Portland State University – Master's degree in German

Study Abroad: Berlin, Germany

How have your language and cultural skills supported and/or enhanced your professional opportunities?

My language skills have absolutely helped me. Studying any language helps refine your written and spoken communication skills! I have never applied for a job posting that didn’t require communication as a skill. Studying a non-English language (in my case, German) also opened up a number of opportunities I would have never considered! I worked in tech support & quality assurance for a software company as my first job after graduation. That role led me to the localization industry—which supports every major sector of the U.S. economy through language.

What advice would you share with current language learners or those considering studying a language?

Just do it! There is no downside to studying a language and it will only open doors for you. You don’t need to pick the ‘right’ language to study nor do you need to follow economic or market trends: Just find what language, culture, or history interests you and dive in. I promise you won’t regret it.

It’s often said that English is the language of global business, and because of that, language skills aren’t necessary to succeed. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

This is an outdated way of thinking. The most successful global brands understand that selling goods or services internationally depends on their ability to engage customers in their language! Proving this is simple: It is difficult (to impossible) to find a company listed on the S&P 500 who does not offer their website/product/service in multiple languages.

Do you have an interesting, moving, or humorous anecdote featuring your language skills to share?

Traveling and language learning go hand in hand and open your mind in such exciting & unexpected ways. One day when I was a student in Berlin, I set out to ride the U-bahn (the German underground train system) without any plan in mind—I simply wanted to explore the city and see where I ended up. I wasn’t on the train long before an announcement informed me that the city had designated the day as one of appreciation for the transit system, and if we wanted, we could take a guided tour of the underground tunnels that make up the U-bahn.

Together with a group of Berlin residents, we walked the tunnels by flashlight and learned the history, challenges and successes of maintaining an underground tunnel system (quite the feat when East and West Berlin were divided). I ended up having a beer with some of my fellow tunnel travelers after and will never forget how cool that random experience was.

Check out our Connect with German page—or explore another language of your choosing—for information about university programs, scholarship opportunities, testimonials, and more!

Then tell us how you put your language skills to work @LangConnectsFdn on social media.

Know a multilingual professional who's using language skills in their work or career? Refer them to us for consideration in an upcoming Professional Profile.