Middlebury Institute graduates discuss where they work today, how the Institute helped them get there, and what advice they’d give to current and future MIIS students.
My name is Nathalia Rio Preto and I graduated with a translation and localization management master’s degree from the Middlebury Institute in 2021, also completing the full coursework of the Spanish into English interpretation curriculum. My language combination is English/Spanish/Portuguese and I am currently a freelance interpreter and translator based in Washington, D.C.
Most recently, in addition to private clients, I’ve been working as a translator and interpreter for the Organization of American States (OAS), which has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. I have long aspired to interpret for international organizations, so having the opportunity to contribute to high-level discussions in this context has been both professionally and personally rewarding. One recent highlight in my career was interpreting for Brazilian Chief Justice Luís Roberto Barroso and for former U.S. president Bill Clinton. It was a really remarkable experience.
I’m especially drawn to assignments related to human rights, Indigenous peoples, environmental protection, and international cooperation. Over time, I’ve been intentionally shifting my focus toward work that feels more meaningful to me—assignments where I can serve as a bridge for inclusion, advocacy, and giving voice to people and causes.
The support and connections I had through the Middlebury Institute were instrumental in opening important doors, most notably with the Organization of American States (OAS).
Recently, I’ve started interpreting in court and immigration settings, which is new and quite challenging. The norms and guidelines differ from conference interpreting. For instance, you have to mimic sounds and hesitations. If they’re cursing, you’re cursing. If they’re using high register, you use high register. According to the code of ethics, you shouldn’t explain. That’s something I have struggled with because in my default way of operating, I want to make sure the person understands. These assignments have pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I’ve been dedicating a lot of time to studying legal terminology to prepare for the state certification exam. I just passed an immigration court exam, which was really demanding.
After the pandemic, I created this resistance to things that drain my life too much. I had been working in localization project management and decided to shift to my first love—interpretation. I had an honest conversation with career advisor Winnie Heh and she encouraged me to stay in touch with alumni and to leverage the experience I already had under my belt. Taking the leap back to freelancing was scary, and my talk with her gave me confidence at that moment of transition.
When I moved from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., I reached out to my professional network—both fellow alumni from Middlebury and other colleagues—to let them know I was returning to freelance interpreting. Although I already had years of experience as an interpreter, entering a new market in a new city required some strategy. The support and connections I had through the Institute were instrumental in opening important doors, most notably with the Organization of American States (OAS). Having the experience and credibility certainly helped me gain traction, but the trust and recommendations of my network are what really got me in the room.
There are moments in interpretation when you truly feel the weight of the work. When you have a bad day interpreting, you feel like you will never know enough, and you’re never going to be good enough—no matter how much you know or how much experience you have. But the good days make it all worthwhile.
I’ve definitely experienced impostor syndrome, but you learn how to suppress those invasive thoughts when you understand how impressive the type of work you do actually is. I had a women’s leadership class at MIIS where they said to stand in front of the mirror in a Superman pose and say, ‘I can do it.’ I actually do that when I feel like I can’t.”
I love that interpretation is in a way an artisanal sort of work—it’s deeply human, and that’s what makes it powerful.
My best advice for current students is this: enjoy the ride while it lasts—being on campus and part of the Institute community is a truly special experience. Don’t get siloed and don’t underestimate the value of colleagues from other programs; they often become your strongest professional network and a source of great opportunities.
A career in translation and interpretation relies a lot on word of mouth. Many of the best opportunities come through referrals—colleagues who know your work, your professionalism, and your ethics. That’s why building a strong and trusted network of colleagues is essential. The most important lesson I learned from my years in this profession is that sharing knowledge with your peers and referring one another for assignments creates a cycle of opportunity that benefits everyone in the field.
Like many colleagues, I am wary about the growing impact of AI on the language industry. The changes we’ve seen in just the past few years—even between when I graduated and now—have been really meaningful. AI is undeniably reshaping our profession, and I believe it’s crucial to acknowledge that reality while adapting strategically.
For those launching a career in translation, localization, or interpretation, my advice is this: find ways to stay relevant. Look for niches where human insight, cultural nuance, and judgment are indispensable. Fields like diplomacy, legal, and medical work, as well as work with rarer languages, still demand a level of care and accountability that machines can’t replicate.
I encourage newcomers not to resist technology but to engage critically with it. Understand what it can and cannot do. Learn how to use AI tools to your advantage while continuing to build the human competencies that remain irreplaceable.
| by Sierra Abukins
You don’t need a background in linguistics, nor to be fluent in a second language, to complete your master’s in localization and build a successful career in the language services industry. People with tech, management, and business skills are in demand in this dynamic, intercultural field.
| by Caitlin Fillmore
Students have put their skills to work on a years-long data analysis and marketing project through a partnership between the Institute’s META Lab and the United Way of Monterey County.
| by Claudia Siegenthaler TLM ’23
Alum Claudia Siegenthaler says there’s no doubt that AI is shifting the role of humans in translation and localization management, but she’s seeing a lot of upside as a project manager at a localization company.
