At Translate.One, we believe that the heart of our company is our people. That’s why we’re excited to share our Meet the Team blog series, where we’ll be highlighting a different team member in each post!

In this fun and engaging series, we ask each team member 15 questions—from their favorite hobbies to the best advice they’ve ever received. It’s a lighthearted way to get to know the incredible individuals who help us deliver top-notch translation and localization services every day.

Next one on our list is our Quality and Product Manager, Christiane Schaeffler!

1. Christiane, where are you located?

Physical location: Ross-on-Wye, UK. But coming from Namibia, I can’t deny being deeply rooted in the warm sand of the Namib desert. 😊

2. How long have you been with the company?

About 6 years.

3. How long have you been working in the localization industry?

This is my 8th year.

4. What does your role entail?

As a Quality Manager I actively work on ensuring that our services and processes meet our established quality standards, that they are maintained and constantly improved, and that they comply with regulations such as ISO requirements. Being “grilled” by external auditors is part of the process in which every finding and non-conformity is a chance to improve what we do and how we do it. From this perspective, I support the Product team to make sure that Quality and Compliance are woven into every part of operations, especially when it comes to the tools we use on a daily basis. Making sure that our tools support us effectively and do as much heavy lifting for us as possible while not sacrificing but assuring our quality standards and allowing us to work in a compliant way.

5.What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy the fact that my role allows me to work on a very broad spectrum of tasks, all of which are closely connected to how the business is run, while also being able to deep-dive into the granularity of certain tasks that require precision. Being able to liaise with so many different teams is wonderful.

6. Can you tell us about your educational background and how it contributed to where you are today?

After completing A-levels (German Abitur) in Namibia, I moved to the beautiful Stellenbosch in South Africa, where I stayed for 6 years, graduating with a BA in Humanities, a BA(Hons) and a MA in German literature. I loved studying! Every day was a new opportunity to learn something about languages, how our brains process them and how the spoken as well as written word are a seismograph of society. During those years I worked multiple part-time jobs which included lecturing at the university and working as editorial staff for a research journal. The tools I gathered during those year are of immeasurable value and still support me in my daily activities. A couple of years ago I decided that it was time to freshen my tool box up again and completed the PRINCE2 (Foundations, Practitioner and Agile) certificates and did a PMP course to broaden my theoretical understanding of Project Management. I am grateful to be working in the Localization industry where I can combine these complementing sets of tools on a daily basis.

7. What’s a fun fact about you that not many people know?

My favorite cooking utensil is a “potjie pot”, a three-legged cast iron pot which is used in Southern Africa to cook stews over an open fire. Making a potjie is a social event that can last an entire day with preparing, cooking, eating and enjoying each other’s company.

8. What’s your favorite activity or hobby outside of work?

To compensate for the planned and structured ways I work in, I thoroughly enjoy jumping on our camper van and hitting the road without a plan. Not knowing where we are going, what we are doing and just being guided by the impulses of the moment make this way of getting away for a weekend or travelling very exciting for me. The more adventure, the better! 😅 Apart from this, I enjoy going to the gym, cooking and other outdoor activities such as biking and hiking with friends.

9. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

To end hunger. Seeing especially kids begging for food is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences. In a world where we can make the impossible possible, no kid should have to fall asleep with an empty stomach.

10. What’s your favorite book, movie, or TV show?

The Perfume by Patrick Süsskind – Definitely one of my favorite books. I could read this book over and over again as every single sentence is so beautifully and cleverly crafted that it has the ability to create a macro-universe of its own if the reader allows it to.

11. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Mmmh, there are multiple places I’d like to visit, but right now I feel Tanzania and the Serengeti are calling the loudest. Experiencing wildlife and safaris in Namibia was wonderful, but I imagine that Tanzania would be able to add a new dimension to it. Watching an African sunset/sunrise over the Serengeti… yes please!! 😀

12. What’s your proudest accomplishment (personal or professional)?

Not sure if it is something I would say I am proud of, but having lived (and worked) in four different countries is definitely something that helped me to broaden my horizon and see the value in different ways of living.

13. Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them.

Unfortunately not. But I am very thankful that some of my dear colleagues have cats, so I manage to get my regular cat fix. 😉

14. Do you have a favorite quote or mantra?

Every day is a new opportunity. (I like this mantra as it’s applicable every single day of our lives and it serves as a constant reminder to never give up, no matter what.)

15. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

If it does not matter in 5 year’s time, don’t spend more than 5 minutes being upset about it.