With over 35 years of hands-on experience and an MBA, I specialise in accelerating international revenue growth. I design and implement data-driven marketing strategies and AI-enabled frameworks that deliver measurable results. Having scaled a multi-million dollar agency by 300% and guided hundreds of companies as a consultant, I have a proven track record of transforming business operations and driving significant profit growth.

What I Do:
- Strategic Marketing Leadership: As CMO at Partners Interpreting, I'm developing comprehensive full-funnel marketing strategies for this high-growth language services provider
- Business Transformation: Previously scaled my international agency 300% (from $2M to $8M revenue) across three markets, improved operational efficiency, and increased profits ten-fold before exiting to launch my consultancy
- AI Integration: Teaching business school students and consulting with CEOs on how AI transforms sales, key account management, and localization workflows
- Measurable Results: Consistently deliver double-digit improvements, from accelerating multi-million dollar pipelines to reducing customer churn

My Approach:
I combine academic rigour with real-world execution, building lean teams that deliver ROI-focused results. I specialise in launching scalable frameworks, aligning cross-functional teams, and implementing corporate strategy, all grounded in data-driven insights.

Ready to Connect?
I am actively seeking opportunities for fractional CMO roles, senior management coaching, board positions, and speaking engagements.

Happy to discuss how I can help accelerate your revenue growth.

Richard Brooks

Our mission is to help people & companies within the global content industry to thrive & prosper.

Think of us as Problem-Solvers, Mentors and Educators for the language industry. 

We work with Enterprises, Language Service Providers & Life Science Companies to address their challenges and problems across a range of disciplines. 

We are a team of external experts who work side by side with your internal team to assure your business outcomes and growth. 

We solve a range of problems and challenges around: 

Sales and marketing
Business strategy and transformation
Technology and innovation
Talent & Quality Management
Learning & Development needs
Life Sciences Language Systems & Solutions
Production expertise and training 

We equip businesses and their teams with the knowledge, tools and resources that allow them to thrive in a busy marketplace. 

Magic Beans Agency is a member of the European Language Industry Association (ELIA) and the Association of Translation Companies (ATC). As individuals we are also members of Women in Localization. 

We connect people and talents, create synergies and lead and guide people and companies to deliver their best work.

Robert Martin

AI hasn’t killed translation – it’s quietly rewritten the job description.

We’re fast approaching a world where machines handle almost all 'routine' translation, and human experts step in where it actually matters: nuance, risk, culture, and intent.

The real opportunity for linguists now isn’t in typing out sentences, but in:

Designing AI‑first workflows
Owning quality, context, and ethics
Becoming strategic advisors on multilingual content

In other words: translation is becoming AI‑powered, but still human‑led. 

The question is no longer “Will AI replace translators?” but 

“Which translators will learn to lead the machines?”

and are they ready to do so? 

Would you agree?

Thanks Almira Zainutdinova for this insightful analysis of where we are now:

Robert Martin 🌍

Helping LSPs and freelance translators reinvent and thrive. Reclaim Tomorrow 2.0 - our 8-week course -builds confidence, future-ready skills, and smart strategies to navigate change. Learn more below. 🌱

Open article: Digital Metamorphosis: How AI is Reshaping the Translation Industry by digital-peace.org

A digital globe dissolving into flowing data streams in blue and orange tones, representing the global translation industry and digital language processing.

Digital Metamorphosis: How AI is Reshaping the Translation Industry

I want to welcome Lara Couto to the Magic Beans Agency team.

Lara joined us quietly in January and is focussing on supporting our freelance community and helping them to learn about Reclaim Tomorrow from Magic Beans Agency which starts again in February!

We are thrilled to have her.

I loved this post and image, which she created today. 😀 

What do you think? 

Is Localization/ Translation like Greenland?

💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 💪 

You know what your work and Greenland have in common? 😏

They’re both on the radar of people who want a piece. 

Tech disruptors and AI promise speed and efficiency, but they can’t replace your judgment, nuance, and expertise

Reclaim Tomorrow helps freelance translators use tech strategically and stay in control of their work, so you don’t have to watch your projects get "annexed".

Take back control 👉 https://lnkd.in/g3QTkkpP

And we are back! ✅ 

Our LSP Tech Club starts again Thursday 22nd of January. 🔔 

Tech club is a small group of LSP collaborators who share common goals:

🏐 To keep up with the constantly evolving language tech landscape
🏀 To share challenges and solutions relating to unique and shared problems
🥎 To increase their fluency and expertise around topics such as AI, Connectors, Workflow Orchestrations, Automation, Quality Tech and much more
⚽ To learn from and with their peers in a smaller, safe environment.

This time Tech Club will run for 3 months only, with flexible payment options. 🩷 

It will include Tech Clinic, a space where you can share your challenges and have them solved by the team 🧠 , as well as a range of guest expert speakers and of course our Reclaim the Future Consultants. 

Listen to Rita Prazeres Gonçalves and Laura Casanellas Luri discuss Tech Club and the value it provides to LSPs here:

Spaces are limited, please ping me ASAP for more information. 😀 

Oh, and yes, I know I have been quiet so far - Happy new year to you all! 🩷 

Robert 💪 💪 💪

These ladies are impressive.

I am delighted they were all able to come back for the 2nd edition of our course for Freelance Language Professionals 😀 

Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from and with them all 💪🏽💪🏽

View company: Reclaim Tomorrow from Magic Beans Agency

Meet the instructors behind Reclaim Tomorrow.

This course is powered by a group of professionals who actively work at the intersection of translation, localisation, technology, AI, and business. And who bring real, hands-on experience into every session.

Alina Karakanta — AV specialist and assistant professor bridging research and real-world practice
Ana Sofia Correia — Medical translator and mentor with deep life sciences expertise
Kelsey Frick — Translator, subtitler, and community leader focused on sustainable freelance growth
Laura Casanellas Luri — Localisation technology & MT expert with 20+ years in AI strategy
Lucila Morcillo — Translator and localisation specialist with a strong focus on quality and AI workflows
Nora Díaz — Training and technology expert helping linguists work smarter, not harder
Rita Prazeres Gonçalves — Senior consultant in talent and resource management within localisation
Robert Martin 🌍 — Growth and transformation leader

🚀 Reclaim Tomorrow launches February 11

If you’re curious, or want to know whether it’s a good fit for you, feel free to reach out. 

👉 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/g3QTkkpP

Reclaim Tomorrow Instructors 

What do you do when your 30 years of expertise suddenly feels redundant?

One day, the work just stopped.

After three decades building a solid freelance translation career, Jens Wargenau watched the work just... stop.

Not gradually. Not slowly fading. Just silence where there used to be steady flow.

Sound familiar? 

Well, you're not alone. 

The past few years have been a real gut-check for freelancers in our field. 

That feeling of being made to feel redundant while the world changes around you? 

It's isolating. It's unsettling. And let's be honest, it's happening to a lot of us.

But Jens did something different. Instead of waiting or panicking, he decided to actually take action.

He joined Reclaim Tomorrow from Magic Beans Agency and found something invaluable: not theory or empty motivation, but real, practical approaches to understanding what's changing and how to navigate it. 

Fresh perspectives. 
Tools that actually work.

His story shows what's possible when you refuse to let uncertainty have the final say.

If you've felt that doubt creeping in lately - wondering how to stay relevant, how to move forward, how to actually thrive - hear it straight from Jens.

Watch the clip below 👇, then check the comments for the full interview.

And you can learn about the course, in the link on my profile - starting again February 18th.

Many thanks to our friends at:

LEXILAB
Languages in Motion Ltd.
Comtec Translations

And #TeamTranslator#TeamTranslator for helping us to spread the news about Reclaim Tomorrow from Magic Beans Agency

The new class starts on February 18th and is designed specifically for freelance translators. 

It goes beyond theory to provide hands-on, practical skills that can be applied immediately in real-world projects.

What Members Will Learn:

·       Understand AI in translation today: learn the differences between neural MT, large language models, and other technologies, and how to evaluate them confidently.

·       Integrate AI into workflows: discover how AI connects with CAT tools, TMs, and QA processes, while maintaining professional quality.

·       Protect and grow income: develop strategies to use AI as an asset rather than a threat, including client communication and pricing in the AI era.

·       Explore new service areas: gain insight into multimedia localization, interpreting, and life sciences localizaton, which are high-growth markets where AI plays a role but human expertise remains essential.

·       Strengthen professional positioning: learn how to present yourself as a consultant and trusted expert, not just a post-editor.

·       Build a future-ready brand: create or optimize a LinkedIn profile, articulate unique value, and attract clients who appreciate expertise.

Every session combines expert insight, real-world examples, and guided exercises. Members will leave with practical outputs such as edited AI texts and improved LinkedIn profiles that they can use right away.

We really appreciate the support of our LSP and association colleages.

If you are an LSP or Association and would like to give your translators access to the course with a special discounted rate - just contact myself or Alexandra Arenz

Thanks all! 👍

Kelsey Frick from #TeamTranslator is another of our expert instructors on Reclaim Tomorrow from Magic Beans Agency

Kelsey will be leading a session on Client Acquisition in the AI Era, and wll be providing pactical strategies for translators to improve their brand and acquire the most desirable clients.

One of the topics Kelsey covers is Personal Branding, which is one of the most practical tools you have as a freelancer or service provider.

A lot of people hear personal branding and think:

flashy colors
polished visuals
a slick website

And yes - those things matter. But they’re not the point.

At its core, personal branding is intentional.

It’s the intentional, strategic practice of defining and expressing your value.

Not chasing every new marketing trend.
Not reinventing yourself every few years.
Not trying to be everything to everyone.

It’s about showing up consistently as the version of yourself that runs your business.

Why does this matter?

Because trust is your most important currency.

A strong personal brand:

Positions you as an expert in a confusing, hard-to-understand industry
Makes you look polished, credible, and professional
Keeps you top of mind when someone needs your services
Makes you memorable enough to get referrals
Increases perceived expertise, which supports higher rates
When clients see you as the expert, they don’t just expect quality - they’re willing to pay for it.

Personal branding isn’t about ego.

It’s about clarity, consistency, and trust.

And that’s what actually grows your freelance business.

See Kelsey speak about this below, and I will post a link to the comments for anyone interested in taking part in the course from Feb 18th.

Thanks Sandrine Constant-Scagnetto for your kind words!

We are loving getting to know the freelance translator communty better.

In these days of change, tech disruption and sometimes polarization, it is crucial to remember we are an ecosystem, and need to work together so that all can thrive. 

Reclaim Tomorrow from Magic Beans Agency starts again soon! 

Contact us to get a preferential discount code and to be part of our next intake. 

Rita Prazeres Gonçalves Alexandra Arenz Laura Casanellas Luri Lara Couto

Thank you João Campos for your kind words.

It was a pleasure to have you in our inaugural class 🙂🙂🙂

Reclaim Tomorrow from Magic Beans Agency starts again in February for our freelance community! 

I will post the course page in the comments and if you are a friend or colleague of João let us know and we will give you a preferential rate.
❤️❤️❤️

Reclaim Tomorrow is an 8 week course to help freelance translators adapt and thrive in a post AI reality.

it's about maintaining autonomy and agency and increasing your professional knowledge and work options. 

Talk to Lara Couto or Alexandra Arenz or myself for more info!

Togther we are stronger! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

Reclaim Tomorrow 2026

Have you already heard about our weekly tech club for LSPs? 🧠 

We are starting very soon again, this time for 3 months only! ✅ 

Each week at the MBA LSP Tech Club you will:

○ Tackle tech challenges: Discuss your technology needs, hot topics and urgent questions with industry experts and peers.

○ Share & learn: Tap into shared knowledge and experience from a trusted peer network.

○ Gain actionable insights: Walk away with practical solutions tailored to your operational reality. ○ Hear directly from experts, creators, and founders: about new features, updates, and upgrades of top tools in the industry.

○ Maximize team resources: Send the right team member—tech leads, MDs, or PMs—to gain relevant expertise exactly when needed.

○ Build lasting capabilities: Apply hands-on exercises and proven workarounds that strengthen your LSP's toolkit.

○ Improve your AI fluency and confidence: to support your teams and clients without fear.

Check out this document for more info and talk to Rita Prazeres Gonçalves or Clara García if you have any questions at all, we would love to have you join the 3rd iteration of one of our most popular inititatives.

MBA LSP Tech Club 2026

One of our goals in Reclaim Tomorrow from Magic Beans Agency is to help translators move into areas which continue to grow and represent high demand for their services and expertise.

Here our Multimedia expert Alina Karakanta talks about why Multimedia Localization is on the rise and how the new tools lower the barrier for any translator or LSP to start providing relevant services:

Alina makes the following points:

✅ Screens are now ubiquitous - they appear everywhere (phones, online spaces, even gas pumps), making multimedia content unavoidable.

✅ This screen saturation makes multimedia localization urgent, not optional, because users constantly interact with digital content.

✅ AI-driven tools and platforms are transforming localization, making multimedia localization faster and more accessible.

✅ Lower entry barriers allow traditional text-focused LSPs to expand into multimedia and audiovisual localization.

✅ Demand is rapidly increasing due to a shift toward audiovisual content across industries.

✅ E-learning is also increasingly video-based, replacing text-heavy learning materials.

✅ Marketing often follows a “video-first” approach, especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

✅ Streaming services have exploded, accelerated by the pandemic and continuing to grow.

✅ Accessibility regulations (especially in the EU, e.g., the Accessibility Act) require companies to prioritize accessible design.

✅ Localization is evolving from text translation to full product localization, combining text, audio, video, subtitles, and audio descriptions into a single multimodal experience.

Note: I didn't proof the captions in the video; that's your job! 😀 

How did the tool do?

Are you providing Multimedia localization as a freelancer?

If you want to know how to do it, join us from February 18th

Alexandra Arenz
Laura Casanellas Luri
Rita Prazeres Gonçalves
Lara Couto

Yep 😊 

Your buyers are now asking ChatGPT and Perplexity who can handle their work.

Our test showed exactly what determines whether you show up.

We often ask LSP owners: "Where do your buyers find you?"
Most say referrals. Some say Google. A few mention LinkedIn.

Almost nobody mentions AI search - yet your buyers are now actively searching there. 

They're asking things like, "Who translates technical manufacturing documentation?" 

If you're not in that answer, you're missing deals you don't know exist.

We tested this last week. We searched Perplexity for "translation for industrial equipment manuals UK."

The companies that appeared weren't the biggest players or the ones ranking highest on Google. But they shared three things: a defined niche, original research, and published case studies showing actual results.

"We offer translation in 150 languages" doesn't get cited by AI. 

"We help manufacturing companies get technical documentation EU-certified" does.

AI doesn't reward breadth. It rewards specificity. Which is a real advantage for LSPs willing to own a niche instead of chasing every market.

Massimo Tedeschi mapped out the actual steps to become the source AI cites when your buyers search. 

And yes,being the lovely people that we are, we are sharing it with you!

Download the checklist below.

For more insights, follow Massimo and if you are interested in truly dominating your Niche, drop us a line... we have a few strategies which can help you.

#Localization #AISearch #LSP #Strategy #Marketing #Dominate

Super Short Survey for the Freelancers in my network!

And yes, there is a typo 🙈🙈🙈

How confident are you when your clients want to talk AI & Technology?

Personally, I feel relatively well informed, but because things move so quickly and there is so much ground to cover, I sometimes realise I dont know what I don't know? 

Do you ever feel that way? 

Let me know? 

💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

How confident do you feel discussing AI with clients?

The author can see how you vote. Learn more

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The Battle

Richard Brooks

Robert Martin

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taplio

The Battle

Richard Brooks

Robert Martin

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Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Robert Martin's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreRobert Martin's LinkedIn Performance