Before every event, long before the audience or participants arrive, I’m already at the venue. I need time to tune into the atmosphere, get familiar with the flow of the space: Where’s my spot on stage? Which corner might cause microphone feedback? Where’s the best lighting? I coordinate with the tech team, do a soundcheck, go over last-minute programme changes and final details with the organisers, and introduce myself to the speakers. Once the first guests start arriving, I

This year, I joined the German Speakers Association (GSA), Europe’s leading professional association for speakers and moderators. And this month, the 8th GSA Moderators’ Day took place in Berlin, an event I had been looking forward to for quite some time, as it gave me the opportunity to finally meet people whose work I had previously only come across on LinkedIn, in books or through podcasts. The event was organised as a barcamp, which immediately created a very special dyna

Last month, I had the opportunity to dive deep into the art of process facilitation during an intensive in-person workshop. The experience was both insightful and practical, focusing on hands-on methods and the invaluable exchange of ideas with fellow participants. One integral part of the workshop was a series of role-playing exercises. These weren’t just theoretical discussions, but real-world simulations where I could experiment with techniques for tactfully guiding domina

“We’re not just moderators; we’re also translators”. When I heard the opening line in episode 31 of the German podcast DIE MODERATORINNEN , I couldn’t help but smile. It resonated deeply with me, because both professions share more similarities than you might expect. As an interpreter, I translate languages. As a moderator, I translate content, moods, and intentions. In both cases, the goal isn’t just to convey what is said, but also what is meant, i.e. the nuances that lin

Last weekend, the Annual General Meeting of the NRW regional chapter of BDÜ took place in Siegburg. And this one felt a little different for me! For the first time, I wasn’t just attending. I was actually part of the agenda! In my new role as Public Relations Officer, I had the chance to introduce myself to the members and share a glimpse of what I have in mind for the coming term. My focus? Making our association more visible and approachable for both current and future mem

When you are at an event and the entire room is singing and dancing along to ATP, you just know you‘ve come to the right place! Last weekend, I attended the 1st Moderators‘ Day in Cologne, and I was completely blown away by the high quality of skill, professionalism, creativity, and performance shown by the organisers and attendees alike. The event, initiated by Kerstin Stromberg, Head of Deutsche Moderatorenakademie , had so many fun and eye-opening experiences and activitie

Last weekend, the 23rd Annual Members’ Meeting of the VKD Professional Association of Conference Interpreters took place in Fulda. In addition to the official agenda, reports from the executive board and committee members, discussing motions, and electing new board members, the new cohort of the VKD Mentoring Programme was introduced. The aim of the programme is to facilitate young colleagues’ entry into professional life as freelance conference interpreters. To this end, exp

Last week, I attended best of events international in Dortmund, the leading trade fair for the event industry. It was a great opportunity to get an overview of current developments, trends and key topics shaping the sector. I listened to several talks, which once again highlighted just how quickly the industry is evolving and offered valuable food for thought for my own work. The discussion with Nina Cisneros, Ronja Grebe and Annika Matthes on participation and social sustai

It's that time of year again! Here are my TOP 9, featuring interpreting highlights that made this year truly memorable. I always enjoy doing this review, because with everything else happening in my professional and private life, it gives me the chance to reflect on these standout moments of 2025. My interpreting year started with a two-day assignment in the beautifully snow-covered town of Wuppertal , at a conference for painters and decorators. In January still, I had the o

If you’re working in the language industry you will probably know that our tools are changing faster than you can say Terminology Extraction. And ever since genAI has burst into our everyday lives like a conference speaker with something to say, one thing has become clear: without training, you won’t survive as a freelancer! Generative AI is not competition for language professionals. Much rather, it’s a superpower booster! It will help you structure background information i

Last week, I attended the AI in Translation Summit to explore Artifical Intelligence from a professional, ethical and business standpoint, along with 2,500+ language professionals from all over the globe. For 3 days, we learnend and discussed about tools and techniques, mindset and growth, as well as ethics and confidentiality when working with AI. All this input has left me highly inspired and motivated to navigate the exciting developments in Large Language Models and chatb

To mark today's International Translation Day, which I am celebrating for the 19th time this year as a member of the BDÜ, I had to dig...

It's that time of year again! 2024 is coming to a close, and that's my cue to post my BestOf, looking back on my most favourite and...

This October, my fellow interpreting colleague Andrea Wilming from Proscenium and I had the great honour and pleasure of offering our interpreting services at the German Dance Award at the Aalto Theatre in Essen. The German Dance Award is considered the most prestigious prize for dance in Germany.We decided to start a series on LinkedIn to offer (potential) customers and anyone interested a glimpse behind the scenes. This summary of said series shall give you an overview of

There comes a day when, after weighing up the pros and cons, the local conditions and the interpreting requirements, you will be working with a wireless tour guide system (aka "whispering equipment" or, much to the interpreters‘ regret as it is quite misleading, "audio guide"). As the name suggests, it was designed for guided tours, and not simultaneous interpreting. So, working with a portable tour guide system is rather unfortunate for conference interpreters, because inste

It’s time to say goodbye to 2023. And it’s time for my BestOf, looking back on the best and most memorable assignments of the year. In...

Before every assignment interpreters will spend several hours to familiarise themselves with the topic and vocabulary. But what happens...

I just returned from an interpreting assignment in Baden-Württemberg in the south of Germany, where - according to the locals - they are...

With collective bargaining negotiations for the German public sector in full swing, town hall meetings are now being held with the...

I'm trying something new this year: a virtual advent calendar on interpreting, presenting you with 24 tips, facts and anecdotes on my...