By Dottie Li
Photo: Dottie Li delivers a keynote address at the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2011.
Neutralizing my non-English accent changed my life.
And with this incredible tool, I have also helped other non-native English speakers transform their lives and careers.
My childhood dream was to become a broadcaster at Voice of America. In 1991, I became a Mandarin broadcaster and English-Chinese translator at VOA. Years later, Rosetta Stone invited me to be the voice and a voice coach for their Mandarin products. I now run TransPacific Communications, a cross-cultural firm that offers multiple service pillars, including translation and interpretation in over 200 languages.
Realizing that childhood dream also led me further into the corporate world. When I first transitioned from broadcast journalism (VOA and then C-SPAN) into the corporate spokesperson role at a large company, my English was fairly understandable. But as a high-level communications professional, I had to sound better than just being understood. My company hired a professional accent coach, with whom I worked hard to find my speaking voice, one with natural credibility and authority.
The coaching helped me take stock of my talents and attributes and identify areas for improvement. My journey has convinced me that helping people improve their communications transforms careers and enhances lives. This led me to found TransPacific Communications. After almost 30 years, it remains a great source of satisfaction for my communication coaches and me to see the people we have helped advance in their careers.
My journey also led to more prominent roles: I was invited to work for President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton. While traveling with them across the country and around the world, I handled presidential media advance assignments and communicated with a diverse range of influential people.
Photo: Dottie Li and the White House Advance Team in Berlin with President Bill Clinton in 2000.
Photo: Dottie Li with First Lady Hillary Clinton in San Francisco in 1998.
Nowadays, I serve as a keynote speaker at numerous federal departments, agencies, industry conferences and corporations. I command podiums at large conferences and speak on topics of cultural importance, including accent neutralization. At TransPacific Communications, we believe that without the ability to connect with people, networking is impossible. Therefore, our training focuses particularly on Power Networking Across Cultures.
Photo: Dottie Li conducts training on Power Networking Across Cultures at The North American Society of Chinese Automotive Engineers (NACSAE) in Detroit in 2019.
Our Effective Communication for Non-Native English Speakers training provides clear, practical benefits for key federal agencies and corporations. I was privileged to testify in Congress before the House Small Business Committee. Upon hearing my journey, U.S. Representative Judy Chu, the first Chinese woman in Congress, publicly supported TransPacific’s training services in the official Congressional record: “…I would like to applaud the work that your company does in helping non-native English-speaking workers become more effective communicators. I believe that it is so critical that we educate our businesses and federal agencies in cultural competency, especially as more and more of our economy relies on a workforce from diverse backgrounds.”
Photo: Dottie Li testifies at the U.S. House Small Business Committee in 2019.
Photo: Dottie Li and Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-Ca) at the House Small Business Committee hearing in 2019.
About a year ago, I joined the online Chinese New Year celebration hosted by the ATA Chinese Language Divisionand felt an instant connection. I was added to the WeChat group and learned much about the challenges and triumphs of linguists. Many members inspired me, and I even hired some of them to provide services for our clients.
It was a privilege and a thrill to deliver a presentation at ATA66 on accent, tailored to linguists’ needs. I couldn’t have asked for a better audience with the standing-room-only crowd! While STEM professionals and organizations have been our primary clients, linguists have also proven to be the perfect audience for my mission.
Several linguists, including CLD members, approached me before and after my presentations at CLD Café and ATA66. Though it was heart-warming to see that my messages resonated with them, following through on the recommendations is more important. In my decades-long career, I have seen so many professionals suffer from frustration over lost opportunities and regret lost time. And I sincerely want to help them overcome such challenges.
Linguists are at the core of effective communication. Our craft defines us and demands us to speak with clarity. Only when we do are we truly heard and seen. This is not just about proper accent, pronunciation, intonation, grammar, syntax, and inflection. It’s also about messaging and delivery. One ATA colleague shared that a county judge had furiously criticized several interpreters for incomprehensible renditions, saying they could not be certified. Unfortunately, I have seen too many linguists, Chinese included, who would not pass this test.
At TransPacific Communications, we only hire linguists with skills that enable people to understand and relate, linguists who represent our company’s values. The best linguist we have at TransPacific Communications is an ATA-certified Chinese translator and interpreter, HXG, who has worked for us for years. HXG is an amazingly talented networker who makes people feel comfortable while helping them navigate challenging situations. A consummate professional, she is also friendly and kind. And most importantly, she speaks with clarity and power, in both Mandarin and English.
I wish more were like her. I have paired her with other Chinese interpreters on occasion, only to see them not emulate her and underdeliver. Unfortunately, they were not invited to return, leading to lost career opportunities.
This is about being understood, plain and simple, which comes down to nuance, mannerism, attitude and connection. These skills not only enable us to become leaders in our profession but also take us to broader, higher ground, pushing us to our fullest career potential.
A client, Dr. PS, said in a recent LinkedIn post, “Your guidance in Effective Communication has been instrumental in helping me step into a leadership role with clarity and confidence.” Having received a significant promotion at a major pharmaceutical company, Dr. PS added, “Grateful to my English communication coach—Dottie, whose guidance not only refined my pronunciation but transformed how I present, connect, and lead. From earning a Director-level promotion to moderating industry panels and facilitating high-impact discussions, this journey has been shaped by clear, confident communication. Thank you for helping me find my voice—and use it with purpose.”
Empowering my beloved community was the driving force for founding TransPacific Communications 29 yearsago. It remains my mission today.
Dottie Li is a coach, keynote speaker, and communication strategist who designs and provides media training and cross-cultural communication training. She has conducted numerous workshops, presentations, and seminars on the techniques and benefits of effective communication. Her work has been featured on NPR, China Daily, and other media. She is a certified coach on accent modification and reduction. Millions hear her as the voice and voice coach of Rosetta Stone’s Mandarin products. An essential part of her mission at TransPacific Communications is to help break down cultural and communication barriers in the workplace, ensuring talented non-native speakers of English fulfill their promise.
Edited by Fang Sheng and Sijin Xian.
Leave a Reply