From losing her job to building a global translation empire โ this is the raw, unfiltered journey of Victoria Nicol.
Victoria is the founder of My Language Connection, a specialist language services provider working with clients across 52 countries, including leaders in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. In this episode, she opens up about the real entrepreneurial journey โ from starting with nothing to scaling internationally, managing 1,800 subcontractors, and adapting to rapid AI disruption in her industry.
We cover:
๐ How redundancy sparked the launch of her business
๐ Winning the Scottish EDGE funding competition
๐ Expanding to Dubai and navigating its business culture
๐ฅ Growing a team that shares your values
๐ Managing cashflow while scaling service delivery
๐ง Handling setbacks, building resilience & staying agile
๐งช Translating for high-risk industries (medical, pharma)
๐ค The future of language services in an AI-driven world
๐ฉโ๐ป SOPs, ISO standards & managing quality at scale
๐ฏ What it takes to build a business that others want to buy
This episode is for entrepreneurs, founders, and anyone who wants a deeper look into what it really takes to grow a sustainable, high-performing business โ especially in a service-based industry.
๐ Full episode available now on all platforms
๐ง Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GoQcDSj3bU1og11KUZ7uX
๐ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bits-you-dont-see/id1787517797
๐บ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBitsYouDontSee
๐ฑ TikTok & Instagram: @thebitsyoudontsee
๐ Like, comment and subscribe if you enjoy deep dives into what really goes on behind closed doors in business.
Takeaways:
- The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of maintaining core values as a business evolves and grows.
- The speaker highlights the significance of having a well-structured team to effectively manage numerous subcontractors and diverse projects.
- Winning the Scottish Edge competition provided validation of the business model and opened doors for future opportunities and growth.
- The discussion reveals the complexities and challenges of operating in international markets, particularly regarding cultural differences in business negotiations.
- The conversation touches upon the rapid evolution of the translation industry, especially with the advent of AI technologies influencing language services.
- The episode concludes with reflections on personal growth and the transformational journey of leadership in a dynamic business environment.
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