Letter from CLD Administrator Liming Pals
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
Hello, CLD members and friends!
It’s a true joy to be a part of the incredible Chinese Language Division (CLD) family. I’ve been involved with ATA since 2009, and from the very beginning, this community has been a source of immense benefit for me. I’ve been inspired by the passion, resilience, and creativity of my fellow linguists, entrepreneurs, leaders, and life-lovers.
The language industry is always evolving, with technology accelerating the pace of change faster than ever. Yet, I’ve seen our community consistently rise to meet these challenges. Through our collective creativity, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit, we are the ones shaping the future of our profession.
My own journey in translation began in 2007 in Xi’an, China, where I worked part-time for a non-profit while finishing law school. In 2009, I became a full-time freelancer after the birth of my first child and have been running my own business since 2012. Today, I’m a Localization Program Manager at Workiva, where I apply my expertise in international law, linguistics, and business to deliver language solutions that enable global expansion.
I’ve had the honor of serving on the CLD leadership council from 2018 to 2020 and as assistant administrator from 2020 to 2024. I am now incredibly humbled and excited to serve as the CLD administrator. Working alongside our amazing leadership team, I look forward to fostering a stronger sense of belonging, providing valuable professional development opportunities, and helping our CLD family grow even more vibrant.
Embracing Our Past, Building Our Future
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the past CLD administrators who have guided us through two decades of incredible transformation and growth. A special, immense thank you goes to Tianlu Redmon, our previous administrator for two terms, whose dedication and courage helped us reach this strong and vibrant phase.
We are so fortunate to have an amazing group of leadership council members who volunteer their time and energy to make our division shine. They host inspiring events, maintain our website, organize our fantastic Yifeng blog, and produce our engaging podcast. Because of their hard work, we can proudly offer a rich and diverse set of resources designed just for you. They are truly passionate about what they do, and I encourage you to explore everything we have to offer—there’s so much here to help you grow!
Thriving in the AI Age
In my 16+ years in this industry, I’ve seen firsthand how much our field has changed, from the remarkable evolution of CAT tools and cloud-based collaboration to the rapid advancements in AI. These shifts are not something to fear—they are an opportunity to be resilient and not just survive, but thrive.
Here are some trends I’ve noticed, and what we can do to embrace them:
New Opportunities with Evolving Demands: The Slator 2025 Language Industry Market Report shows a massive global market for language solutions—a whopping $31.7 billion! While AI and technology-enabled solutions are handling more of the upstream work, this creates exciting new demands for skilled human linguists. As a localization program manager, I rely on technology service providers (TSPs) and language service providers (LSPs) to manage about 80% of our content. This frees up our time to focus on the high-value work that only we can do. More and more companies will be looking to leverage AI for efficiency, which means freelancers and small teams with specialized skills will be in higher demand than ever.
Solutions Instead of Just Translation: AI is profoundly transforming our industry, and with it, the needs of our clients are rapidly evolving. They’re no longer just looking for translation—they’re seeking comprehensive solutions. For example, a client might need a local content creation strategy that uses AI to adapt and generate material for new markets, or they may require specialized search engine optimization (SEO) expertise to boost their global marketing efforts. The key is to understand these changing needs so we can offer valuable solutions instead of just a service. This shift also creates exciting new opportunities for linguists with advanced skills, such as prompt engineering, to lead the way in this new landscape. As a localization program manager at Workiva, for example, 80% of content now flows through an AI workflow, with less than 10% requiring post-editing from linguists. This shift means we can spend our time on more complex, creative, and rewarding projects.
So, how do we as individuals rise to these challenges?
- Stay in the Loop: Make a habit of dedicating a small portion of your time—maybe 10%—to stay on top of industry reports, news, and conversations with your peers. This is a time of great transformation, and we are the experts who know how to navigate it. By working together, we can seize these incredible new opportunities.
- Delight Your Customers: Get closer to your end clients and truly understand their needs. Maybe they value speed and efficiency more than anything else, or maybe they need a creative touch that AI can’t provide. By talking with your clients directly, you can cut out the middleman and deliver exactly what they need, making you an invaluable partner. The demands of large LSPs and their clients are changing rapidly, and staying in close contact with your direct clients is the best way to be a step ahead.
- Embrace Lifelong Learning: This is a trait I see in so many of our colleagues. Let’s intentionally commit 5% of our time and money each week to learning new skills. This small investment will pay huge dividends for your career and your confidence.
The future belongs to the resilient and resourceful linguists who see change not as a threat, but as an opportunity. We’re in this together, and I am excited for the bright future we will build!
Important CLD Resources
- Yifeng Blog: A great source of knowledge and insights.
- CLD Events: A community where you can connect with other members.
- CLD Social Media: Check out our LinkedIn page and Facebook page to learn, connect and expand your network.
- CLD Podcast: A fantastic way to stay informed on the go.
- WeChat Group: If you want to join the CLD WeChat group, please add my WeChat ID: limingpals.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on navigating the AI age. Share your perspective in the comments below!
Drawing on master’s degrees in international law, business administration, and finance, Liming Pals brings a uniquely comprehensive perspective to driving global expansion. As a Localization Program Manager at Workiva, she leverages over 15 years of experience in translation, localization, and project management to deliver scalable language solutions that enable the global growth of the Workiva platform. She also serves as the Administrator of the ATA Chinese Language Division. In her free time, she enjoys learning guitar, exercising, and riding bikes with her three children.
Edited by Ben Murphy.
Leave a Reply