In this episode your host Sonia Kampshoff sits down with Elizabeth Prokorny, the Head of Content and Brand at Weglot. After exploring Elizabeth's journey in language learning and her career path from the UK to The Netherlands and then France, she discusses Weglot's AI-powered website translation tool, all that goes into translating websites and the importance of tailoring content for each country.

Elizabeth also gives us examples of website translation (some have 800,00 words!) to SEO elements and the importance of content localization. And she shares insights into the company's structure, culture and future developments, emphasizing the role of customer feedback in shaping their offerings.

Lastly she shares that Weglot is developing directory of multilingual SEO experts to support Weglot's clients in making their translated websites feel more local.

1. Elizabeth tells about different working cultures in the UK, The Netherlands and France, including giving and receiving feedback
2. Weglot uses AI to enhance translation speed and quality while maintaining human oversight.
3. Content localization is crucial for effective communication in different markets. Elizabeth gives the example of 'trainers' and 'sneakers' - they mean the same but 'trainers' is used in the UK while 'sneakers' is used in the US, so ecommerce websites need to ensure they use the correct terms in each country to match what people search for online in each country.
4. Future developments at Weglot will focus on improving AI translation and SEO tools as well as their international experts directory.
5. She also highlights how customer feedback is essential for product development and service enhancement - their international experts directory is an example of that.

Elizabeth Pokorny is Head of Brand and Content at Weglot, where she leads global brand storytelling and content strategy around international expansion. With over a decade of experience in B2B content, SEO, and brand positioning, she focuses on building clear, confident narratives that help companies grow across markets. Elizabeth is particularly interested in how brands can balance technology, accuracy, and personality to communicate more effectively across languages.

Weglot is an AI-powered website translation tool that instantly translates your site.

Put your translation quality on autopilot and let Weglot effortlessly generate translations that reflect your brand tone and style. Weglot’s AI learns from your past edits, brand tone of voice, and target audience to give you quality website translation, fast and hands-off.

When needed, bring humans into the process to refine and edit when it adds value.

Technical setup? It’s fully automated. Your translated site is displayed under SEO-friendly language URLs, helping you rank higher and be found by users, AI engines, and international audiences no matter what language they search in.

1. Weglot: https://www.weglot.com
2. Weglot events: https://www.weglot.com/events
3. International expert directory:

Today I talk to Mair Garland who after 10 years shifted from the corporate world into leading non-religious baby naming ceremonies, weddings and funerals ceremonies as a humanist celebrant.

Mair shares how she grew up in Wales speaking both English and Welsh. After studying French and Linguistics at the University of Oxford, which included a year abroad in France, she found work at an international organisation where her languages set her apart. What started as a part-time side project, her work as a celebrant has become a business she loves which brings many referrals through word-of-mouth.

1. Growing up bilingual in Welsh and English shaped Mair’s linguistic identity and her instinctive use of language in emotional moments.
2. A year abroad in France transformed her French from academic to natural and immersive, influencing her confidence and cultural adaptation.
3. Her decade-long corporate career allowed her to integrate language skills in unexpected ways, especially within a multinational company.
4. As a humanist celebrant, Mair now blends languages and cultural traditions to create deeply personalised ceremonies for weddings, funerals, and baby naming ceremonies.
5. Her work is highly collaborative and creative: she co-creates scripts with couples or families, crafting personalised stories, vows, and symbolism.
6. There is growing demand for multicultural and multilingual ceremonies, even outside Wales and France, especially among mixed-background couples and families.

Originally from Wales, Mair is a proud native speaker of Cymraeg (Welsh) and works as a humanist celebrant in London, offering non-religious baby naming ceremonies, weddings and funerals. Mair specialises in bilingual ceremonies in both Welsh and French.

1. Website: www.garlandceremonies.com
2. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garlandceremonies

Sonia is an experienced, multilingual digital marketing consultant focusing on Google Ads and advertising on social media. She works with small and medium-sized companies, agencies and charities across ecommerce and lead generation accounts, supporting them from strategy and planning all the way through optimisation and management.

Languages are integral to her identity and career, so much so that in September 2025 she created and hosts this podcast, telling stories of people who merge their language skills with the work they do - and inspiring many more to learn languages and build a career on these valuable soft skills.

1. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingwithlanguages
2. LinkedIn:

In this conversation Fiona Gray, a translator and Chair of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, shares her journey in language learning and translation.

Fiona shares her experiences studying multiple languages, her transition into professional translation and her passion for tourism and creative translation. Fiona also highlights the importance of community within the translation profession, the impact of AI on the industry, and the role of the ITI in supporting translators. She offers valuable insights for aspiring translators and emphasizes the need for continuous professional development.

1. Living and working abroad is essential for language learning - immersion helped Fiona embrace mistakes as a natural and even enjoyable part of learning a language.
2. A love for languages - her deep love of languages shaped her entire academic path, from school through a master’s in literary translation.
3. From in-house to self-employed - early in-house roles guided Fiona into freelancing, where she now specialises in lifestyle, travel, tourism, premium brand translation - with Luxembourg becoming an unexpected niche.
4. The value of community - community is central to her work, and she has taken on increasing leadership roles at the ITI, now serving as its chair.
5. AI is transforming translation, but it’s also a tool - Fiona sees AI as both a disruptor and a tool, with many translators looking to understand and adapt to the changes it brings. ITI offer support and courses around AI and changes to the translation industry.

Fiona Gray MITI helps brands and businesses based in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg to find their voice in English through creative copy and compelling content that makes their German words travel. She has over a decade of experience in the translation industry and has been freelancing for the past nine years. Fiona is Chair of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), having served on the ITI Board of Directors since 2022. She won the ITI Mentor of the Year Award in 2023 and was named Linguist of the Year at the ATC Language Industry Awards 2024.

1. Website: https://www.fionagraycreative.co.uk/
2. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-gray/

The Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) is the only UK-based independent professional membership association for practising translators, interpreters and all those involved in the language services sector. ITI offers a professional home for language professionals, helping them to create and nurture a fulfilling career, upholding standards for professional conduct through training and education, and increasing public recognition of the value of the translation and interpreting professions through advocacy and engagement.

1. Website: https://www.iti.org.uk/