In anticipation of International Women's Day 2019, Sweet Trinbago Living: http://sweettrinbagoliving.com/celebrating-women-in-business-rebecca-cockburn/ is featuring a number of women entrepreneurs and we were the first to be featured. The article follows:
In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8th, I am celebrating all month by featuring some wonderful women and their work in sweet Trinidad and Tobago!
First up, is Rebecca Cockburn, Managing Director of RMC Language Consultancy Limited. I first met Rebecca at the Women Innovators Network in the Caribbean (WINC) Trinidad and Tobago Acceleration Programme in 2016. She was my first official woman in business buddy!
I asked Rebecca about her entrepreneurial journey so far, the challenges she faced as a woman in business and any advice she has to offer to those wanting to follow her path.
Tell me about your business…
RMC Language Consultancy Limited was founded in March 2012. With over 18 years’ experience in our field, we help our clients to communicate, negotiate and transact business in foreign languages and we help them to understand and adopt culturally appropriate behaviour. We do this by
Why languages and translation?
Growing up, a curiosity about understanding foreign languages, cultures and people seemed natural. I remember learning to count from one to ten in Spanish at Montessori school but when I got home, mummy taught me a bit more. I was proud to have that edge as a young child. My mother studied languages and we practiced on family trips. Watching my mother being able to communicate with French speaking tourists, excited me and I wanted to learn more.
I did business and languages in secondary school and went on to study languages and economics at university and graduated with a BA in Spanish and a M.Sc. in International Relations. Exchange programmes during undergraduate and post graduate studies took me to Venezuela, Cuba and Colombia. Other personal and business travel trips saw me visiting other Latin American and Caribbean countries, Europe and Asia. My learning combined both studying and living the language so my career choice came naturally.
Working at the Embassy of Mexico in Trinidad and Tobago and later as a foreign language specialist for the Trinidad and Tobago Government was a great way to put my knowledge to work. Besides Spanish, I have expanded my foreign languages to include French, German, Portuguese and Italian.
What is the most fulfilling part of your career?
Helping others, whether my expatriate clients or a client who was just impressed and happy with the quality of our (translation and interpreting) work. At RMC Language Consultancy Limited, we pride ourselves on providing quality, accuracy and reliability. I also love the independence to choose how my time is spent and also the ability to manage my home and professional life that comes with being an entrepreneur.
My favourites are translation and cross-cultural coaching because it gives me the opportunity to balance time alone translating documents with other periods of engaging and helping my clients understand cultures and achieve success while on assignment abroad.
What message do you have for other women taking independent career paths and risks?
Listen to your gut and take the steps, no matter how small, towards living your dream life.
Fun fact about yourself.
I love everything chocolate :)
Thank you so much Rebecca for sharing with us! Happy International Women’s Day!
In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8th, I am celebrating all month by featuring some wonderful women and their work in sweet Trinidad and Tobago!
First up, is Rebecca Cockburn, Managing Director of RMC Language Consultancy Limited. I first met Rebecca at the Women Innovators Network in the Caribbean (WINC) Trinidad and Tobago Acceleration Programme in 2016. She was my first official woman in business buddy!
I asked Rebecca about her entrepreneurial journey so far, the challenges she faced as a woman in business and any advice she has to offer to those wanting to follow her path.
Tell me about your business…
RMC Language Consultancy Limited was founded in March 2012. With over 18 years’ experience in our field, we help our clients to communicate, negotiate and transact business in foreign languages and we help them to understand and adopt culturally appropriate behaviour. We do this by
- translating documents
- providing interpreting services at meetings, conferences, negotiations and court (Spanish, French, Portuguese, German and Italian into and out of English)
- providing cross-cultural coaching (facilitating the transition of global workers/expats to successfully adapt to their host country)
- providing event facilitation services.
Why languages and translation?
Growing up, a curiosity about understanding foreign languages, cultures and people seemed natural. I remember learning to count from one to ten in Spanish at Montessori school but when I got home, mummy taught me a bit more. I was proud to have that edge as a young child. My mother studied languages and we practiced on family trips. Watching my mother being able to communicate with French speaking tourists, excited me and I wanted to learn more.
I did business and languages in secondary school and went on to study languages and economics at university and graduated with a BA in Spanish and a M.Sc. in International Relations. Exchange programmes during undergraduate and post graduate studies took me to Venezuela, Cuba and Colombia. Other personal and business travel trips saw me visiting other Latin American and Caribbean countries, Europe and Asia. My learning combined both studying and living the language so my career choice came naturally.
Working at the Embassy of Mexico in Trinidad and Tobago and later as a foreign language specialist for the Trinidad and Tobago Government was a great way to put my knowledge to work. Besides Spanish, I have expanded my foreign languages to include French, German, Portuguese and Italian.
What is the most fulfilling part of your career?
Helping others, whether my expatriate clients or a client who was just impressed and happy with the quality of our (translation and interpreting) work. At RMC Language Consultancy Limited, we pride ourselves on providing quality, accuracy and reliability. I also love the independence to choose how my time is spent and also the ability to manage my home and professional life that comes with being an entrepreneur.
My favourites are translation and cross-cultural coaching because it gives me the opportunity to balance time alone translating documents with other periods of engaging and helping my clients understand cultures and achieve success while on assignment abroad.
What message do you have for other women taking independent career paths and risks?
Listen to your gut and take the steps, no matter how small, towards living your dream life.
Fun fact about yourself.
I love everything chocolate :)
Thank you so much Rebecca for sharing with us! Happy International Women’s Day!
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