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SELECT LANGUAGE:
In this installation of our Meet the Pride Series, meet Leah D., Lionbridge’s Enterprise Sales Director for Life Sciences. Leah takes joy in helping find new partners (particularly in the COA space) and supporting them via language services in their endeavors to make the world healthier. Leah also travels and continues learning new languages to add to her impressive repertoire.
Tell us about your role at Lionbridge.
I work as Enterprise Sales Director within the Life Sciences vertical, focusing on the European territory. I identify pharma companies, CROs, and other life sciences organizations that could use our support to address their language and content needs throughout the drug lifecycle. I specifically focus on COA (Clinical Outcome Assessments) within the Life Sciences team. Lionbridge offers end-to-end COA solutions, so we can provide tailored support at all stages of our customers’ COA journey.
I also regularly help companies find ways to safely and responsibly integrate AI into their workflows so they can reap the benefits of this exciting new technology — while following a risk-reduction-based approach.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I appreciate how impactful this work is. I always wanted to study languages, so I appreciate being part of a leading LSP whose outcome-driven solutions directly benefit the well-being of patients worldwide. Engaging regularly with people from the Life Sciences sector confirms how driven we all are to improve patients’ health outcomes and quality of life. It’s so rewarding to play a role in these endeavors, knowing the positive impact they could have.
As a linguist at heart, I appreciate working with colleagues and customers worldwide. It’s a delight to speak various languages and connect with customers on a deeper level.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
I’m passionate about learning new languages. I’m currently taking German lessons (to brush up on my conversational skills) and Brazilian Portuguese lessons (to connect with some relatives in Brazil). The stereotypical image of the monolingual English speaker never sat well with me, and it is one of the reasons I've actively explored languages and cultures other than the one I grew up with. Over the years, I’ve studied:
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Italian
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Russian and Dutch (in small doses)
I’ve been to the Czech Republic many times, and I’d like to learn Czech next. However, mastering this language may take longer.
Traveling always presents new opportunities to solve problems. I feel comfortable conversing in a few languages. However, there are inevitably moments while talking with locals that challenge me with untranslatable words and abstract concepts. Trying to navigate these situations linguistically may lead to some initial confusion, but they often end in laughter and are ultimately moments to connect with others.
I thrive on linguistic adventures, including exposure to alternative perspectives, diverse approaches to life, and ways of expressing similar ideas through the lens of different idioms and regional sayings.
What are your favorite phrases in the languages you speak?
Here are a few:
English: “To be as much use as a chocolate teapot.” While this isn’t intended as a positive description, it’s a beautiful image.
Italian: “Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco.” This means, “Not all donuts come out with a hole.” The English equivalent is something like “Things don't always go to plan,” or, “You can't always win.”
French: “Manger sur le pouce.” This literally means, “To eat on your thumb.” The English equivalent is “To eat on the go.”
German: “Vorfreude ist die schönste Freude.” This literally means, “Joy found in the lead-up to an event is the best kind of joy.” There isn’t a perfect English equivalent, since “Anticipation is half the fun” doesn't convey the same sentiment. The German phrase expresses that the experience of anticipating the event is more beautiful than (not equally as beautiful as) the event itself.
Portuguese: “Filho de peixe, peixinho é.” This literally means, “The son of a fish is a little fish.” The English equivalent is “The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.”
Spanish: “Hay cuatro gatos.” This literally means, “There are four cats.” The English equivalent is “There isn't a soul around.”
What do you like most about being a part of the Lionbridge Community?
My favorite part of the Lionbridge community is its open-minded, progressive spirit. As a multilingual, multicultural company, we all must be welcoming, nonjudgemental, and embrace diversity in our colleagues and their thinking.
Another amazing quality of Lionbridge’s culture is its emphasis on teamwork. Even though we work (often remotely) worldwide, we’re usually more connected than some in-office teams. We work together well to deliver large, complicated projects. It’s a pleasure to be a part of this dynamic.
How did you get into this field?
Through languages. I studied French, German, and Italian at university. Knowing multiple languages opened opportunities to work at large, global companies. I also taught and lived in Italy for a few years. Teaching develops skills that are crucial in sales. You learn to ascertain what your audience wants and needs, whether they are pupils in a classroom or the leader of a global pharma company. You learn to observe and actively listen. Then, just as you help students achieve their learning outcomes, you carefully develop a solution that helps customers achieve their desired outcomes.
I started my sales career in account management, then moved into new business and partnerships. Prior to working at Lionbridge, I was in a Life Sciences and language services company, where I realized this was my ideal vertical.
What countries have you traveled to? What’s next on your list?
I’ve visited quite a few places, and I definitely plan to continue. I’ve been to:
- France
- Spain
- Portugal
- Italy
- Malta
- Belgium
- Luxemburg
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Czech Republic
- Greece
- Canada
- United States
Next on my list is Japan.
