The world of translation is a bridge between cultures, a space where words have the power to open markets, connect societies and preserve linguistic identity. In this demanding and constantly changing universe, there are professionals who have not only built a career but left their mark with their talent, resilience and passion. Today we talk to two of them: Brigith Guimaraes and Sarah Dakhlaoui.
Two careers of excellence in translation
Brigith Guimaraes is a professional with an impressive career spanning engineering, international trade and, of course, translation. She speaks five languages and has worked for more than 30 years in male-dominated sectors, from construction to industrial manufacturing. Yet her true passion led her into the world of translation, where she has not only gained postgraduate and doctoral qualifications but has also brought her vast experience to a sector that demands precision, specialisation and absolute commitment.
Sarah Dakhlaoui is an expert in translation and interpreting with more than 17 years of experience as a freelancer. She has worked in business and commerce, leading groups of entrepreneurs and business owners with a firmness and professionalism that have made her voice heard. Her view of work is marked by responsibility and adaptation to a constantly evolving world, without leaving aside her artistic side and her love of music and art.
Two women, two unique careers, but one shared reality: translation is not just turning words from one language into another; it is building bridges of understanding in a globalised world. In this conversation, we explore their vision, their challenges and the lessons that can inspire the next generation of translators.
The challenge of being a woman in the workplace
Every woman’s experience in the workplace is shaped by her personal history, her surroundings and the barriers —visible or invisible— she has had to overcome. For Brigith Guimaraes, her career began at 18 in a male-dominated sector: construction. While she directed luxury villa projects in Portugal and supervised teams of more than 200 workers, her youth and gender were never an obstacle.
“I never felt inferior or looked down on, despite being so young”
Her career took her to key positions in different industries, from heavy machinery sales to the manufacture of metal structures for large engineering projects. Over the years, Brigith worked in environments where the female presence was minimal, but that did not stop her from earning the respect of her colleagues and superiors.
“From directors to engineers, including quality and welding technicians, there was no difference between men and women. There is enormous respect and dedication, and we are very proud of it”
For Sarah Dakhlaoui, the reality was different. Her entry into the workplace in Tunisia, in the late 1990s, broke with the social norms of the time.
“Seeing a 20-year-old girl working 600 kilometres from her parents’ home was, to say the least, unusual”
For her, financial independence was not an option but a necessity.
“It was unthinkable to be 20, a student, with a CV untouched by any work experience, or to rely on an allowance from my parents as I had when I was 12”
Besides the curious looks, Sarah also faced questions that reflected the mentality of the time.
“They even went as far as asking me whether my father was alive”
However, her focus has always been on her personal and professional path.
“I have not thought about my work experience in terms of gender, but in terms of my personal journey as ‘Sarah’, with all the decisions, good or bad, that I may have made”
Unlike Brigith, who felt from the start that her work was valued, Sarah has wondered whether at certain moments of her career she could have taken more risks.
“Maybe, at certain moments, I did not take enough risks… Was it because of my gender, my character, the circumstances?”
Making a place in the translation industry
For many women, proving their worth in the professional sphere can mean extra effort. However, Brigith Guimaraes never felt she had to work harder to be recognised. Her formula was clear:
“I love working, I give a hundred per cent and I am humble, because learning is one of the best things life gives you.”
Both Brigith and Sarah Dakhlaoui have found their ultimate vocation in translation, although their paths to it have been very different. For Brigith, translation appeared unexpectedly after decades working in industrial sectors and international trade. It all began when she decided to help a colleague who was trying to make her way as a freelance translator:
“She gave up, and I, on the other hand, started exploring new possibilities that I fell in love with, and still am today.”
Her love of language and precision led her to complete her training with a postgraduate degree, a master’s and even a doctorate in literary translation at the age of 66.
“I think my passion for translation sets me apart in the sector, as does the huge variety of subjects, some of them quite complex, which I see as a challenge and a fight to do it better every time.”
Sarah, meanwhile, has built her career as a freelance translator over the last 17 years, while also exploring the world of business and entrepreneur leadership. For her, the key to success has been her ability to adapt:
“My vision is always based on commitment and on adapting to a world that never stops changing.”
And when it comes to positioning herself in a professional environment, her approach is clear:
“With my seriousness and my firmness. You are what you project, and people will treat you according to how you allow them to treat you.”
Have you faced situations where you felt you had to try harder to be recognised?
Beyond gender, both translators have built their careers with a mindset of effort and dedication. Brigith Guimaraes puts it clearly:
“I have always been available for whatever was needed in an emergency, from drilling 500 tonnes of non-conforming steel to studying a subject in order to translate it.”
Her approach has been simple but powerful: impeccable work, consistency and love for what she does.
For Sarah Dakhlaoui, the key has been firmness and self-confidence:
“You are what you project, and people will treat you according to how you allow them to treat you.”
Her career has taught her that positioning yourself professionally is not a matter of gender, but of attitude and setting boundaries from the start.
Both have managed to make their way without asking permission, showing that respect and credibility are built with preparation, results and a strong professional presence.
How do you balance (or how did you balance) your personal and professional life?
Balancing personal life and professional life is a constant challenge, especially in a sector like translation, where tight deadlines and workload can be overwhelming. Brigith has experienced it first-hand:
“It has never been easy to combine work, home, academic life, literary translation and technical translation… But I managed to work hour after hour, with no weekends or holidays.”
Her approach has been total dedication, knowing that standing out in her sector required sacrifice and great organisational skills.
For Sarah, the concept of balance is relative:
“I do not think it is possible to reach a balance; you cannot have everything in life. You have to accept that and, from there, make decisions and live with them.”
Her philosophy is clear: rather than looking for a perfect formula, it is about prioritising what really matters at each moment and accepting the consequences of those choices.
Both have found their own way, showing that there is no single model for managing professional and personal life, and that each woman must decide how she wants and is able to carry both without guilt or external pressure.
How has it been balancing work with motherhood? Do you feel pressure to “do it all” and not fall behind in your career?
Motherhood is a theme that runs through the careers of many women, creating additional challenges for their professional development. Brigith knows that feeling of constant pressure well:
“Yes, I often feel a terrible pressure to do everything, to be partly a housewife and 100 per cent a professional, to think about what I am going to cook while keeping track of deadlines. It is often really exhausting.”
The duality between personal life and the demands of work is not easy to manage, and although her commitment to excellence in her work is unquestionable, she admits that the mental load is still a challenge.
Sarah Dakhlaoui, on the other hand, has taken a different path. She always knew that motherhood was not part of her life plan, but in recent years she has lived another kind of experience:
“These last few years I am living a different kind of experience, which is raising my stepdaughter, with the pressure of ‘doing it all’ and of ‘doing it all well, or outstandingly’. But it is self-imposed pressure.”
Both reflect different realities, but with one thing in common: the demand to always be up to the mark, whether as a mother or in a parenting role, is a burden that many women live with.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as a woman in your career?
Facing challenges is part of professional growth, and in Brigith‘s case, the challenges have been both technical and strategic. In her previous professional life, she worked for 33 years at one of the largest metal construction companies in Portugal. Her biggest challenge was leading the purchasing department in a predominantly male environment:
“The biggest challenge was running the purchasing department, because I am not an engineer, or a welder, or a locksmith, and I did not know what a steel plate was. I had to acquire a whole range of knowledge because management had put its trust in me.”
Despite having no technical training in engineering, she managed to establish herself, with effort and determination, in an industry that has historically been dominated by men.
Sarah Dakhlaoui highlights a different challenge: earning respect in the world of entrepreneurship. As a freelancer, she found herself leading groups of business owners and entrepreneurs, which was a challenge in terms of credibility and authority:
“Leading groups of business owners from my humble position as a freelancer and earning respect and admiration”
has been one of her greatest achievements, showing that experience and determination can carry more weight than titles or traditional hierarchical structures.
Both stories reflect what many women face in the workplace: the need to constantly prove their worth, whether in highly technical sectors or in environments where female leadership is still the exception and not the norm.
Do you think women lead or work differently from men?
When it comes to leadership, Brigith has a clear perspective: the approach depends more on the people you work with than on gender itself. Although she believes women can be more organised and meticulous, she considers that what matters most is commitment and dedication to the work.
“I think women will be more organised and hard-working when they really commit to it. But I have always preferred working with men.”
Her experience has shown that differences are not necessarily related to gender, but to abilities and the willingness to achieve goals.
In contrast, Sarah does not believe in generalisations. For her, women should not be seen as a homogeneous group, but as individuals with unique characteristics and skills.
“Saying this means treating ‘women’ as a homogeneous group and not as a set of individuals with different characters, personalities, lives, training, qualities and so on. That is not how I see things.”
Sarah believes that the nuances of each individual’s personality and life are what really make the difference, more than gender itself.
Both agree that personal and professional qualities are what define a good leader, regardless of whether they are a man or a woman. The key lies in vision, preparation and approach.
Have you noticed differences in decision-making, in communication or in the way of working?
For Sarah, the answer is clear and direct:
“Not necessarily.”
Her view stays in line with the idea that each person is unique and that behaviour or working style cannot be generalised by gender.
Brigith does not address this question explicitly in her answers, but given her experience in mostly male environments, she has always worked with a pragmatic and results-focused approach. What she does make clear elsewhere in her testimony is that, in her career, she has found both men and women who are committed, organised and efficient, which reinforces the idea that personality and attitude weigh more than any other characteristic.
Beyond gender differences, what really influences decision-making and communication is each professional’s experience, preparation and ability to adapt.
Which values do you consider essential in the workplace and in life?
Values are the compass that guides anyone’s professional career, and for Brigith and Sarah there are principles that are non-negotiable in how they work and relate to others.
Brigith sums it up in three pillars:
“Passion for the art of translation, dedication to work and thinking that it is my absolute duty to live up to the trust people place in me.”
Her approach is that of a professional committed to excellence and a solid work ethic, where the quality of the work and the relationship with her clients are essential.
Sarah highlights two fundamental values:
“A sense of responsibility, honesty.”
For her, these principles govern both her professional life and her personal one, and she applies them in every interaction and in every project she takes on.
In a world where competition is fierce and technology advances relentlessly, what really sets a professional apart is not only their technical knowledge, but the values they work with every day.
Beyond translation: what inspires us
Work is an essential part of life, but it is not everything. Passions and hobbies also play a crucial role in how a person sees the world and relates to it. For Brigith and Sarah, these interests not only give them balance, but also influence how they approach their profession.
Brigith finds inspiration in activities that require patience and precision:
“I love embroidery, which I learned from my grandmother from the age of 6, and upholstery. I have embroidered everything in my house and the needle relaxes me.”
Reading is also a constant passion in her life:
“Our library at home has more than 10,000 volumes, and I have a huge reading list.”
For Sarah, music and art have always been part of her identity, although at some point they were put on hold:
“I forgot about my artistic side for years and put it away in the trunk of memories, but now that I have taken it out again, there will be no turning back.”
Both in the art of translation and in their pastimes, Brigith and Sarah find a way to express themselves and connect with the world in an authentic way.
Lessons for the next generation: the time is now
If there is one thing Brigith Guimaraes and Sarah Dakhlaoui are clear about, it is that the biggest obstacle many women face is not outside but in their own mindset. The key lies in daring, believing in yourself and taking control of your own professional path.
“May they receive a solid academic education, and may they be proud to be professionals of the highest level. Men can be good at what they do, but mental organisation is more our domain… ‘Playing several instruments’ and making others feel it costs nothing is the hardest thing there is. And we manage it. Because we are women and resilient, though delicate and feminine.”
Sarah stresses the importance of confidence and determination:
“Do not put brakes on yourself, do not sabotage yourself, do not give in to pressure, do not think of yourself as less than you are. The way you see yourself is what you project. Do not be afraid to speak, to disagree, to say NO, to raise your voice, do not look for the easy way… Think of the women who did everything when nothing was possible.”
Success is not a matter of luck or gender, but of preparation, effort and courage. As these two professional translators have shown, the road can be hard, but it is possible to make a difference.
Thank you for inspiring with your talent
At Overseas, we would like to thank Brigith and Sarah for sharing their experiences and, above all, for their dedication and excellence in every project.
Your stories reflect the passion, resilience and commitment that make professional translation much more than a job: a way of connecting the world.
Thank you for being part of Overseas and for inspiring with your story.
