Jurga Žilinskienė

Jurga Zilinskiene
Alma mater University of London
Title CEO & Founder of Today Translations
Board member of
  • Today Translations
  • Today Advisory
Spouse(s) David Clarke
Awards

Jurga Zilinskiene (Lithuanian: Jurga Žilinskienė, born 2 August 1976) is an entrepreneur, programmer and founder of Today Translations,[1] a global translation company.

A summation in the City AM described Zilinskiene as: '...one hell of a formidable businesswoman... a Lithuanian-born cross between Richard Branson and Margaret Thatcher... combined perhaps with shades of Warren Buffett, whose frugality and dislike of shopping and ostentation she shares'.[2]

Zilinskiene has been interviewed in many national newspapers about Today Translations and her unconventional approach to business. She has appeared in the Financial Times,[3] the Independent on Sunday,[4] Daily Telegraph[5] and the business website, Growing Business.[6]

In 2018 Zilinskiene was named as one of 100 women that Lithuania is proud of as part of the '100 Lithuanian Women' project.[7][8]

Early life

At 19, she moved to Britain[4] to study law and economics at the University of London.

Today Translations

In 2001, while at university, Zilinskiene set up Today Translations – for which she was awarded the Shell Live Wire Award for Young Entrepreneurs in 2003.[6]

Zilinskiene funded Today Translations with £13,000 of personal investment and it continues to operate without external funding. This example of bootstrapping is rare within the City.[9][6][4] Currently, the company has a global network of 3,000 translators and interpreters.[10]

Zilinskiene frequently engages in government and media briefings, as well as forums organised by multinational companies.[9] In 2006, Zilinskiene organised a trade mission with over 20 delegates from multinational organisations such as Merrill Lynch, to seize business opportunities in Lithuania. The trade mission involved Lithuanian parliamentarians and British diplomats, causing international media interest.[11] To mark the success of the trip, Zilinskiene was given a UK Trade & Investment Certificate of Appreciation for her contribution to enhancing international trade by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[12]

In October 2010, she was nominated to, and accepted, the Freedom of the City of London at a ceremony in the Guildhall, becoming the first female Lithuanian to receive the Freeman title. She was subsequently recognised as a Liveryman to the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers,[13] one of the City's oldest fellowships. She also sits on the China Interest Group Committee.

In June 2013, Zilinskiene took part in a panel discussion at Forum One in Kaunas, Lithuania,[14] the biggest business leadership event to ever take place in Eastern Europe. The event featured some of the brightest Lithuanian business minds and a special talk by one of Zilinskiene's business idols, Sir Richard Branson.

In recognition of her sustained business success, Zilinksiene was invited to be part of the judging panel for the Shell Live Wire Award for Young Entrepreneurs in 2015,[15] the award she herself received 12 years prior.

In September 2016, Zilinskiene was selected to participate in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative aimed at supporting SMEs. She graduated from the programme in the same year.[16] Shortly afterwards Zilinskiene was also invited to attend an Executive Education course at Harvard Business School.[16]

Charity

In September 2012, Zilinskiene co-hosted the Courage and Benevolence Ball alongside the English actor, Sir Timothy Ackroyd at Café de Paris in London. The event was sponsored by Today Translations and raised money towards Epidermolysis Bullosa research and treatment for the charity, DebRA.[17]

Personal life

Zilinskiene is married to David Clarke, a former Chief Superintendent at City of London Police.

Awards

  • Shell LiveWIRE Award for Young Entrepreneurs in 2003.[18]
  • UK Trade & Investment Certificate of Appreciation, presented by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[12]
  • Named as one of '100 Lithuanian Women' that Lithuania is proud of in 2018.[7]

Television Appearances

Matt Cooke, reporter for BBC London News interviewed Zilinskiene in June 2011 regarding her involvement in the Ready to Supply programme run by the City of London Corporation. A scheme aimed at spreading wealth and employment beyond the square mile through practical advice and business support to SMEs who are looking to procure from large organisations.[19]

In October 2009, Zilinskiene was interviewed by STV about the initiative launched by Today Translations to recruit Glaswegian interpreters.[20] The Glaswegian interpreter campaign was similar to the recruitment of Geordie,[21] Scouse[22] and Brooklynese[23] interpreters. However, this was met with some trepidation and controversy around the need to translate local dialects.

In November 2016, Zilinskiene’s company Today Translations advertised for ‘the world’s first emoji translator’,[24] which received widespread media coverage.[25][26][27] As a result of the unusual job advertisement, Zilinskeine appeared on BBC,[28] ITV News,[29] and Vice, as well as several radio stations.[30][31]

References

  1. ↑ The Guardian – How to translate hope into reality, 14 June 2004
  2. ↑ City AM – Investment bank wannabe lays his soul bare at Goldman altar, 25 January 2010
  3. ↑ Financial Times – Suppliers to the Square Mile, 22 March 2011
  4. 1 2 3 The Independent, Business Essentials: 'Debt is foreign to me, but how else can I expand', 6 June 2004
  5. ↑ Daily Telegraph – Starting out, 26 June 2007
  6. 1 2 3 Growing Business, 1 June 2004
  7. 1 2 "W@ | 100 Lietuvos Moteru". W@ | 100 Lietuvos Moteru. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  8. ↑ EN.DELFI. "100 women of Lithuania that all Lithuanians worldwide are proud of!". DELFI. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  9. 1 2 Arabic eBook Success Stories, 2008
  10. ↑ "Professional translation services agency in London, UK". www.todaytranslations.com. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  11. ↑ Exploring land of promise in the not-so-far east, Lloyd's List, No. 59,197 – 29 June 2006
  12. 1 2 British Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania Newsletter, Winter 2006
  13. ↑ Worshipful Company of Fruiterers Newsletter – December 2010
  14. ↑ http://www.forumone.lt/en/
  15. ↑ "Shell LiveWIRE | News". www.shell-livewire.org. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  16. 1 2 "Jurga Zilinskiene". Today Translations. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  17. ↑ Today Translations sponsor The Courage and Benevolence Ball, 23 November 2012
  18. ↑ PNE Group
  19. ↑ BBC London News – 25 June 2011
  20. ↑ Parliamo Glesga? Can you speak Glaswegian? – STV News – 14 October 2009
  21. ↑ Journal Live, Translators wanted to decipher North phrases – 9 October 2010
  22. ↑ Daily Mail, Interpreters hired to translate Geordie and Scouse accents for foreigners – 8 October 2010
  23. ↑ NY Daily News, London firm Today Translations give tourists a hand in understanding confusing Brooklynese – 29 April 2010
  24. ↑ Eggert, Nalina (2016-12-12). "Emoji translator wanted - London firm seeks specialist". BBC News. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  25. ↑ Petroff, Alanna (2016-12-13). "Now hiring: Emoji translator in London". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  26. ↑ Hunt, Elle (2016-12-13). "Sign of the times: London company advertises for 'emoji translator'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  27. ↑ "A Top London Translation Firm Is Looking To Hire Its First Emoji Translator". The Huffington Post. 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  28. ↑ Today Translations (2017-01-11), BBC reports on Today Translations' search for an Emoji Translator, retrieved 2017-01-20
  29. ↑ Today Translations (2017-01-11), London company looks for an Emoji Translator - ITV, retrieved 2017-01-20
  30. ↑ "Wanted: Emoji translator, The Newsroom - BBC World Service". BBC. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  31. ↑ "Is there a need for an emoji translator in today's professional world?". audioBoom. Retrieved 2017-01-20.


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