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Name: Csilla Rostas

Business: Across Continents Translations

Industry: Professional Services (e.g. consulting, law, human resources)

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Reason for starting: I am a Hungarian lawyer and legal translator living in Brussels, Belgium. For me, Brussels means the capital of the European Union, full of opportunities and multiculturalism. The state offers great conditions for starters to establish a company. During my studies I was especially interested in international law and EU law. The passion for foreign languages and the enthusiasm to get to know other cultures has been a part of my life since my childhood. I have always been passionate about legal translation, foreign affairs and the multicultural working environment. I love working with foreign people in many languages.

When you own your business, you get the freedom to work on projects that have meaning in your life and you work with more passion. While running your own company, there are always new challenges to face, you never stop learning, you create the work atmosphere you want and you have geographical freedom as well.

Related: From Refugee Camp to Successful Entrepreneur 

How do you define success? Success is a multifaceted and personal concept. Success means you can feel proud of being able to achieve great things within a specified period of time in your professional or personal life. Also, success means to overcome hard times, to build up existence on your own and to never give up. You are successful when you are in control of your own future.

Biggest Success: I lived in Italy in 2010 and 2011. While working for the European Voluntary Service in Naples, I had the opportunity to get to know different cultures, a different way of life and the practical facade of the Barcelona-process aimed at the partnership with the Mediterranean area.

In 2012 I had professional experience in the European Parliament, where I was able to follow the political, social and economic processes happening in Hungary, in Europe and all around the world. The supranational institutions of the European Union offer unique and historical opportunities for the young citizens of each member state.

In 2013 I started to work at Lexial law firm in Brussels, specializing in business immigration and this year I created my own company, a Brussels-based translation agency with a worldwide network of translators and interpreters.

Related: Read about another language entrepreneur here. 

What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? It is a great challenge to build up a “translation empire” from zero, only with your passion, can do attitude, enthusiasm, hard work and your determination. It is also a challenge to be a woman entrepreneur in a male-dominant business world. I think women have the talent and potential to change their economic status and to develop their countries as well. Women’s economic contribution and political participation is still undervalued and unrecognized. It is a challenge to promote your business on the market and stay focused while you have so many ideas in your head.

Because of global debt and economic struggles, uncertainty is stronger today than in the past. It is difficult to strategically plan five to ten years into the future. A major challenge is finding the right, trustworthy staff. Each team member’s personality can have a huge impact on the harmony and productivity of the business.

Who is your most important role model? There are many. I look up to all the successful women in business. While working for Lexial law firm in Brussels, in the field of business immigration, I was inspired by more successful clients who manage their own international business. We don’t have to be envious of successful people, we don’t have to hate them, but we should learn from them, listen to their opinion, ask their advice in order to improve our skills, and follow their example.

I was also inspired by Joelle, the most amazing English teacher in Brussels who was so courageous to create her own, successful language school, Anglo in Brussels. I respect women who are brave enough to start a new life and to build up a fantastic career from zero on their own. For me, some of the most inspirational people are Anne Frank, Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, Malala, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, Martin Luther King, Coco Chanel. And most of all, I am thankful for my supportive, amazing mum, without her my story couldn’t have come true.

[box_light]Website   http://acrosscontinents.be/
Twitter   @acrosscont
Facebook   www.facebook.com/Across-Continents-Translations[/box_light]

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Edited by The Story Exchange