MIIS Leader-in-Residence: Lorena Ortiz Schneider: Developing Core Competency: The Cornerstone to Succes

The next leader for the “Leaders-in-Residence” program will be MIIS alumna Lorena Ortiz Schneider.  This program was launched during the Fall 2020 semester and connects globally-recognized leaders with students for a series of events. These leaders hail from a variety of backgrounds, industries, and professions to share their personal experiences and insights with students from all degree programs.  The program is designed to complement the Institute’s academic curriculum — with its focus on discipline-specific skills and competencies — with a broader focus on leadership relevant to students’ professional objectives.  By participating in the program, students will increase their opportunities for networking and mentorship as well as connections with students from other programs.

Lorena, in addition to being a highly respected translator and interpreter, is a stellar entrepreneur and advocate for the profession.  She is also the founder Chair of the Coalition of Practicing Translators and Interpreters of California, an advocacy group that stepped up to the challenge of fighting against AB5 (destructive legislation for all translators and interpreters) this last year.  Her experience reflects not only her leadership in the language industry, but also core competency, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and leadership skills, which are applicable in any discipline.  

Ms. Ortiz Schneider will speak during a series of events throughout the month of April – each focused on a different leadership topic. Click the session titles to register for each event. The Zoom link will be available in Handshake five minutes prior to the start of the session. Registration is limited to 50 participants.

Thursday, April 8, 6PM – 7:30PM:      Developing Core Competency: the Cornerstone to Success

Thursday, April 15, 6PM – 7:30PM:    Entrepreneurship and Business

Thursday, April 22, 6PM – 7:30PM:    Advocacy and Leadership

Lorena Ortiz Schneider earned her MA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey in Translation and Conference Interpreting, is an ATA-certified Spanish>English translator (since 1996), an ATA credentialed interpreter, and a California state-certified administrative hearing interpreter.

 She has worked for the U.S. Department of State as a liaison and seminar interpreter, as a conference interpreter for private industry, and as a community interpreter in mental health and workers’ compensation settings. She is also a Cross Cultural Communications licensed interpreter trainer, practicing translator and interpreter, and business owner.

Lorena founded the Coalition of Practicing Translators and Interpreters of California, a non-partisan non-profit advocacy group formed as a response to AB 5, the “gig worker” law that sought to reclassify translators and interpreters in 2020. She was a board member of the California Workers’ Compensation Interpreters Association (CWCIA) interfacing with government agencies and state lawmakers to improve working conditions and pay for interpreters.

Lorena served as assistant administrator of ATA’s Interpreter Division over the past 4 years, is ATA’s Advocacy Chair and is based in Santa Barbara, California.