Top Voices: The Global Insights Exchange

Epizode

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  Episode 27: Michael Asquith, Founder, Chief Scientist Officer and CEO, GlobalizeWe 11.10.2026 1h 3min

  Chicago was the virtual place to be for this conversation with Michael Asquith, Founder, Chief Scientist Officer and CEO of GlobalizeWe. Most of all, it was an opportunity for Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann to spend time with an entrepreneur leading one of these companies helping solve critical problems for client organizations in the AI age. As Michael worked in different industries, companies and roles, he was well positioned to leverage his experience and expertise to design solutions bringing security, interoperability and governance to AI systems of today and tomorrow. Many people talk about responsible AI based on accountability and transparency. GlobalizeWe makes it happen. Moreover, Michael takes up the challenge of supporting businesses around the world, ensuring multilingual, multicultural and multimodal effectiveness. If you are managing or involved in content and/or product supply chains, this episode of Top Voices will definitely resonate with you.
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  Episode 26: Enda Cunnane, Principal Consultant, Abbey Friel 10.09.2026 1h 8min

  Top Voices was back to Europe and Ireland for a chat with Enda Cunnane, Principal Consultant at Abbey Friel. It was a very good opportunity to talk about some of the hottest topics in AI-enriched environments including data management, process adaptation and ecosystem evolution. In addition to these operational considerations and technical factors, Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann also discussed the human edge playing out more importantly than ever to unleash the full potential of AI. As Enda was keen to share his wealth of experience building teams in various organizations and industries, it was clear that accountability and judgment could not be automated and were driving AI adoption. This episode of Top Voices was as captivating as ever to understand how a true leader navigated changing times and turned challenges into opportunities.
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  Episode 25: Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru PhD, Deputy Governor, Imo State 17.08.2026 46min

  Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann continue their virtual travel in Africa to talk to Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru PhD, Deputy Governor of Imo State in Nigeria. It was another opportunity to take the pulse of a fast growing country in a fast moving continent. And this conversation was nothing short of amazing. Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru PhD was best positioned to share a realistic and inspiring overview of how her state and her country identified the challenges in various sectors and industries while defining the way to turn them into opportunities in the short and long run. So, she highlighted where Nigeria could and should invest both from an economic and human perspective. Like the previous African guest, she also insisted on why African countries must take control of their own development and define growth priorities, ranging from digital economy and agriculture to industrial capabilities and food industry. Regional and local talent is critical to make political decisions come true. Thank you so much Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru PhD for sharing your views on the current state of Nigeria and your wishes for its future. It is another Top Voices episode available now on our usual platforms.
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  Episode 24: Kenneth Amaeshi, Professor of Sustainable Finance & Chair in Transnational Governance (Global South) @ European University Institute 29.07.2026 57min

  Top Voices does not stop travelling virtually. After leaving Australia, Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann landed in Africa to talk about this continent that is fascinating, exciting and challenging in many ways. Fascinating with its diversity of languages, cultures, environments and people. Exciting with its huge potential to create, accelerate and grow in many industries. Challenging with its willingness to attract foreign investments while financing in its own development and future. Therefore, it was a pleasure to be advised and guided by Prof. Kenneth Amaeshi, Professor of Sustainable Finance & Chair in Transnational Governance (Global South) at the European University Institute. He shared impressive and actionable insights about how Africa gains traction and respect in a number of areas such as talent management, international relationships and economic advancement. Join us for this captivating discussion with Kenneth Amaeshi and listen to this new episode of Top Voices brought to you by International Achievers Group.
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  Episode 23: Diether J. Runge, Co-Founder, VP Global Strategy & Business Development @ Boostlingo 08.07.2026 1h 6min

  Traveling without moving… This could be the tagline of Top Voices at this point. After the US, Canada, The Netherlands, the UK, Austria, Germany, Ireland and Saudi Arabia - and before Nigeria soon - Paula and Bruno made a virtual stop in Australia to talk to Dieter J. Runge. As always, it was a very informal and informative discussion with so much… fun. Dieter is definitely the type of person who makes you comfortable in a couple of minutes. Whether it is about the Down Under way of life, the benefits of international travel or the impact of AI on our ways of working and thinking, he can cover any topic in an engaging way.    The main topic was interpretation of course as Boostlingo is a world leader in that space. It is one of the business services that shows the real value of the human edge while leveraging AI-driven automation. Interpretation has to convey multilingual and multicultural content in an accurate and resonating fashion. And that is exactly what Dieter is committed to delivering. Do you feel like getting a fresh perspective on interpretation coming straight from Australia? Listen to this episode brought to you by International Achievers.
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  Episode 22: Matt Grotenstein, Vice President North America @ GTE Localize 18.06.2026 40min

  From Hanoi to Boston… Paula and Bruno did not travel for this Top Voices episode but they spoke with someone who did. Matt Grotenstein from GTE Localize, who is a veteran in the language industry, shared his background and his journey in the Eastern and Western part of the world. As Vice President North America, he also shared his perspective on language services today as well as the challenges and opportunities in this field. This is one of the reasons why he started LocReset discussions in 2026, exchanging with leaders and practitioners in multilingual content management. Matt is also a LocLunch Ambassador in Boston. Find out more about Matt’s inspiring story, reflecting his continued adaptation to change and his in-depth knowledge of international business management.
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  Episode 21: Mirko Lorenz, Innovation Manager @ Deutsche Welle 14.05.2026 56min

  Top Voices podcasts have been focused on diversity from the outset. Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann have had the opportunity to talk to leaders in a variety of functions, roles, locations and industries so far. This new episode is no exception as they welcome Mirko Lorenz. Mirko is an Innovation Manager with Deutsche Welle, one of the major content creators and broadcasters in Europe. He is also the Co-founder and Chairman of Datawrapper and he combines two passions: journalism and technology. Deutsche Welle manages and delivers content in 7 core languages (Arabic, Mandarin, English, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian) in addition to news and information in 23 other languages. Therefore, Mirko knows what it takes to build an ecosystem and use tools producing multilingual content effectively in an engaging, meaningful and relevant way for international audiences. During this conversation, Mirko explains why content management is crucial for the media industry and how he has ended up in his current position in this Germany-based organization that is well known all over the world. And, of course, he shares his perspective on how AI plays out in the automation of processes and workflows while keeping humans in the center. Listen to this episode to find out how Deutsche Welle stands out in the field of international broadcasting. Und Viel Spaß!
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  Episode 20: Véronique Özkaya, Chief Executive Officer @ DATAmundi 31.03.2026 51min

  Another conversation with a CEO of a truly global company! But not any CEO. And not any company.    This episode of Top Voices was a wonderful opportunity to talk to one of the most famous CEOs of one of the most innovative companies that really moves the needle in the AI age. A company that enables organizations to get and enhance the data they need to train their model(s) cost and time effectively.   You guessed it. Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann were delighted to welcome Véronique Özkaya  from DATAmundi in the recording studio in Dublin, Ireland. And what a discussion it was! Véronique is second to none to explain why everything starts and thrives with data when it comes to AI-enriched processes and ecosystems. Creating and managing data that meets accuracy, relevance and trustworthiness requirements must be based on expertise and experience.    Please check this episode to know more about how Véronique Özkaya and DATAmundi are leaders in the field of data effectiveness.
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  Episode 19: Lorcan Malone, Chief Executive Officer @ XTM International 04.03.2026 53min

  It was a real pleasure to talk to Lorcan Malone about his international journey, impressive background and what XTM has in store in the near future. There could be no better moment to discuss trends and challenges in global content and product management with such a global CEO. XTM has been one of the first major players in the language technology industry to build a vision grounded in ecosystems and to deliver on it. So, no surprise that this company is well known for helping customers with robust solutions to create truly multilingual and multimodal experiences. Do not miss this episode to find out more about Lorcan Malone and his perspective on the changing times we are going through.
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  Episode 18: Amer Qobti, Arabic Localization Expert 18.02.2026 1h 1min

  Sharing the perspective of a global citizen on translation, localization and the language industry in Saudi Arabia and beyond. Join us in this episode of the Top Voices Podcast as Amer Qobti, Arabic Localization Expert, shares his journey and insights with Paula McGrath, CEO of International Achievers Group, and co-host Bruno Herrmann, Strategic Advisor of International Achievers Group. Find out how this true global citizen considers the evolution of multilingual content and the value of such content in business and human relationships. This episode is packed with great insights for anyone interested in the role of translation and localization within global content and product management in Saudi Arabia and beyond. Key Discussion Points: • Language expertise: translation and localization professionals go way beyond words and create engaging experiences for local audiences. • Leading role of Saudi Arabia in the language industry: the country stands out on the global scene by developing skills and investing in innovation. • AI and localization: the balance between AI-driven automation and human-led augmentation is key to elevate localization as a value creator and to integrate it in global content operations.
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  Episode 17: David Webb, VP Global Enterprise Sales @ XTM International 12.12.2025 1h 2min

  From Afterthought to Infrastructure: How AI Is Changing Localization, Roles, and Enterprise Expectations In this episode of the Top Voices Podcast, hosts Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann sit down with David Webb, Vice President of Global Enterprise Sales at XTM International, for an honest discussion on where language technology is heading—and what enterprises are getting wrong about AI. David explains why AI has “put translation on the map” at executive level, but also why the hard part is turning buzzwords into operational value. The conversation explores ecosystem-driven language management, internal evangelism, and the shift toward data-centric roles like Language Data Manager and AI Strategist—while stressing that multilingual AI can’t succeed without deep language expertise. Highlights Include:➞ The AI Reality Check: “What does AI mean to you?” and why that question matters➞ Enterprise Buying Shifts: How conversations have changed in the last 24 months➞ The Cost Myth: The danger of “zero-cost translation” and its impact on talent and quality➞ Language as Art + Science: Why data scientists need language experts (and vice versa)➞ Solutions vs Services: How positioning changes internal adoption and ROI visibility➞ The Internal Evangelist: Helping localization leaders sell value across legal, product, and marketing➞ Partnership Mindset: Trust, transparency, and consultative sales in language tech If you work in localization, language technology, AI, or global content operations—this episode is packed with practical framing you can use immediately. An initiative brought to you by International Achievers Group:https://internationalachieversgroup.com/  
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  Episode 16: Peter Madahian, General Manager @ Exacta & President of the Canadian Language Industry Association 06.11.2025 1h 19min

  AI, Community Interpreting, and the Future of Canada’s Language Industry In this episode, Peter Madahian, General Manager at Exacta and President of the Canadian Language Industry Association (CLIA), joins hosts Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann to explore how Canada’s language sector is evolving in an era of AI, austerity, and global change. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in AI in translation, community interpreting, or the future of language services in Canada and beyond. An initiative brought to you by International Achievers Group https://internationalachieversgroup.com
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  Episode 15: Emil D. Atanassov, VP Internationalization & Accessibility Engineering @ ServiceNow 28.08.2025 1h 33min

  AI, Accessibility, and Global User Experience at Scale In this episode, Emil Atanassov, VP of Internationalization and Accessibility Engineering at ServiceNow, joins hosts Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann to explore how AI, accessibility, and customer-centric innovation are transforming global user experiences. Emil shares his journey from studying American history to leading international engineering teams and explains how ServiceNow uses generative AI and small language models (SLMs) to deliver seamless multilingual workflows, enable self-localization, and meet growing accessibility demands under the European Accessibility Act. Packed with insights on operationalizing AI, scaling internationalization, and creating inclusive digital experiences, this episode is a must-listen for anyone shaping the future of global technology and language management.
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  Episode 14: Peter Reynolds, CEO @ memoQ 31.07.2025 1h 3min

  In this insightful episode of the Top Voices Podcast, Peter Reynolds, CEO of memoQ, sits down with hosts Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann to discuss the latest trends and challenges in the translation and localization industry. With a rich background in social work, Peter shares his unique perspective on leading a tech company and driving innovation in language services.
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  Episode 13: Tommaso Rossi, Director of Localization @ Spotify 27.06.2025 1h 27min

  Don’t miss Tommaso Rossi, Director of Localization at Spotify, and his take on the innovative intersection of AI, culture, and ethics in the localization industry.
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  Episode 12: Emma Keane, Head of Localization @ Balsam Brands 29.05.2025 1h 36min

  Emma Keane on Language, Culture, and Global Expansion at Balsam Brands In this insightful episode, Emma Keane, Head of Localization at Balsam Brands, joins Paula McGrath and Bruno Herrmann to share her journey and expertise in the localization industry. Emma's passion for languages and her role in expanding Balsam Brands' global reach are at the heart of this engaging conversation. Key Topics Discussed: Localization and Language Mastery: Discover how Emma's love for languages has shaped her career and influenced her work in the tech and language management sectors. Evergreen Business Philosophy: Learn about Balsam Brands' commitment to a people-first, sustainable growth model and how it impacts their global strategy. Cultural and Linguistic Accuracy: Understand the critical importance of getting localization right, from product descriptions to customer interactions. AI and Machine Translation: Explore the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into localization processes while maintaining quality. Workplace Culture and Expansion: Hear about the benefits of fostering a collaborative and flexible work environment as Balsam Brands scales internationally. Join us for an episode full of practical insights and strategies for navigating the complexities of global content management and localization.
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  Episode 11: Petra Angeli, Head of Product and Solutions Enablement @ Acolad 30.04.2025 1h 27min

  Tune in to discover how Petra Angeli, Head of Product and Solutions Enablement at the Acolad and her team are leveraging AI while ensuring that the human touch remains central to effective localization solutions.
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  Episode 10: Coral Diez-Carbajo, GenAI Solutions Strategist @ Acclaro 28.03.2025 1h 12min

  Discover insights into the evolving landscape of language management, learn how to leverage AI and strategic thinking to stay competitive and how to balance innovation with human-centric approaches in a rapidly changing industry.
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  Episode 09: Kerstin Berns, Managing Partner @ berns language consulting 28.02.2025 1h 19min

  Navigating the Language Industry: career pathways, AI, and data management. Dive into this episode with Kerstin Berns, Managing Partner @ berns language consulting, to explore how language consulting is adapting to new challenges and opportunities, and gain valuable insights into building a successful career in this dynamic field.
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  Episode 08: Morana Peric, Director of Localization @ DeepL 30.01.2025 1h 31min

  In this episode Morana Perić, Director of Localization at DeepL, shares her experiences and insights on working across various companies, focusing on career progression, operational strategies, and the impact of AI in the language sector. Together, we delve into the challenges and transitions in the industry, and the importance of collaboration between technical and language experts. Not one to miss!