I’m an ATA-certified French-to-English translator and longtime ATA member. I attended my first conference in 2004, and since then I’ve volunteered extensively with the association—as Administrator of ATA’s French Language Division (FLD), chair of the Special Interest Group Committee, host of the ATA and FLD podcasts, mentor, and member of various ATA committees.

Over the past two years, I’ve heard from many colleagues, both publicly and in private, who are scrambling to adapt to the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and other recent changes in our industry. And translators and interpreters are not the only ones affected. Other creative professionals, from copywriters to graphic designers to audiobook narrators, and even doctors and lawyers, are having to rethink how they work.

As a Board member, I’ll work to ensure that ATA members not only stay afloat but thrive in the face of rapid industry change. I’ll start by bringing in subject matter experts to provide practical guidance on niche opportunities and self-employment matters. The goal is to give ATA members the tools they need to maintain, pivot, and grow their businesses.

I also believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. That is why I’ll reach out to other professional associations facing similar disruptions to initiate conversations. What have they learned? What has worked and what hasn’t? Working together, we can combine insights and equip our members to navigate the future. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved.

Over the past two decades, ATA has been there for me at every step of my career, from wide-eyed student to seasoned veteran. Now it’s time for me to give back to the association as well as to my fellow members by taking up the torch and helping them the way they have helped me.