Translation business owner

"I studied translation and interpretation for my bachelors degree in China and then chose the University of Auckland to further my study as I knew I would love to become a professional translator and a degree from the University of Auckland would prepare me well for this profession.

"After graduating with distinction, I was offered a job as an in-house translator and marketing coordinator in a leading translation and marketing agency based in Auckland, where I gained deep insights into the New Zealand tourism industry and valuable marketing experience, and I had the opportunity to work with top clients including Tourism New Zealand, SKYCITY and Auckland Airport.

"After three years working there, I decided to start my own translation business, Lime Translations. As a native Chinese speaker and NAATI accredited professional translator, I provide a translation and transcreation service between English and Chinese with a focus on tourism, marketing and website localisation.

"It takes some guts to shift from being a stable 9-5 in-house translator to a freelancer who needs to build brand awareness and a client base on her own. But I believe it is one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. Working as a translator is already rewarding. Always working on something new and different means that the learning never stops. Working as a freelance translator? Even better! Flexibility is obviously one reason. But what I am really enjoying is being able to make real connections with my clients and help their businesses overcome language barriers and thrive in a whole new market.

"The clients I have worked with include Amazon, booking.com, RentalCover.com and other great businesses all over the world.

"For me doing what I love for a living isn't just a pipe dream!"