Timea Balajcza comes from Hungary, grew up in France and has been living in Poland for the last 19 years. In the finance sector, until a few years ago responsible for 12 European markets, she now manages 800 translators and interpreters across the world. Today, BALAJCZA Specialized Translations Agency, which she set up in 2010, provides translation services in all language combinations.

Mentoring and handing in my notice

IW: In the last interview you spoke about what motivated you to start your own business. Could you take us, step by step, through how BALAJCZA Specialized Translations Agency came to be?

TB: When I made the decision go ahead with my business I employed my first member of staff. This was on 15 March 2010. At that time I still held onto my corporate job. I was aware that for the first three or even four months my presence at the agency was not essential as it was being set up. I effectively had two jobs: still at the corporation whilst at the same time in touch with my employee. I worked in the evenings, mornings and at the weekends - until November. As I worked in finance, I started feeling the pressure in September: this was a period for budgeting, I had a lot of work. On top of that the agency was making its first steps: the website was up and running by June, July saw the first customers with more coming in September. I decided that two jobs were too much for me. Then, in November I took part in Vital Voices, a mentoring programme for women. I mention this as it did help me a great deal to make my decision. During the programme I worked with a mentor, but also spent two weeks with other participants, or a mentee.  Apart from a few girls who worked at corporations and did not want to change anything, most participants were girls who had worked for corporations in the past, but have already made the transition to running their own businesses and were their own bosses. It was them that motivated me by saying: “You have to take the plunge. It is not easy, there is no financial stability, but it is worth doing”. Still in November, once the programme was over, I handed in my notice.

IW: What made you decide to take part in the programme?

TB: I was persuaded. I am a member of PWNet and the then boss started organising Vital Voices. The programme was just being introduced to Poland. Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright started it in the States. I was told that I should take part especially that I already have my own business and sooner or later I will put all my eggs in one basket anyway. That’s why I made the decision.

Foreign customers

IW: Today you manage 800 translators and interpreters all round the world. Where there any ground breaking events during the recent years of expansion?

TB: Our growth was rather gradual, month on month and year on year we managed to increase turnover. Hiring another employee seemed to be a milestone: there were only the two of us in the first year. The fact that foreign customers started contacting us directly was also significant. At first, we only dealt with Polish branches of foreign companies, but suddenly there was a breakthrough: customers from the USA, France, Spain, Luxembourg and Hungary knocking on our doors.

Family board meetings

IW: How can I picture the structure of your company? There are the translators, there is an office... Can you describe it?

TB: It is a family business, so the management board comprises me and my husband. But it is me who looks after the agency on a day to day basis, my husband supports me with ideas and also when it comes to finance and strategy. We often discuss the direction in which the business is heading.

IW: Do you have board meetings?

TB: Yes. Together with Iwona, who has been with us since the start and looks after customers, we discuss monthly results. We also take these opportunities to sum up where we are, where we stand with customers and what steps to take next. Going back to the structure: today we employ one person who looks after customers, one responsible for admin, settlements and invoicing and one more who takes care of the needs of the office: procurement, post, etc. Furthermore, at the start of this year, we hired another employee who helps Iwona in looking after customers. Apart from this office structure there are external translators and interpreters whom we work with. To be entered onto our database they go through a rigorous selection process - completing the form on our website is only the first step. They are then required to provide us with their CV, references, complete a questionnaire and finally a sample translation. We do not simply start working with willy-nilly anyone who applies. We do our checks. But sometimes even that is not enough: there was an instance where a translator handed in a good sample translation but when we verified their first actual job the quality turned out to be very poor. Perhaps someone else did the sample for them, just to help them get their foot in the door. We have to have our finger on the pulse all the time.

To read entire interview please click HERE www.balajcza.pl