A few days ago, MiTRa Translations returned from the ELIA Networking Days 2024 in Berlin, and our impressions are nothing short of wunderbar! Veronika Ivanova and Nenad Angelov recounted their exciting experiences.
AI: New Guy at the Office (Day 1)
One hot topic throughout the event was AI, and it’s safe to say it was on everyone’s mind—no, not in a Skynet-is-taking-over-the-world way, but as a tool to enhance human capabilities.
Samuel Läubli, CEO of Supertext and co-founder of Textshuttle, delivered a great keynote. It emphasized how AI can empower LSPs rather than replace human expertise, setting the tone for the discussions that followed.
The first roundtable session explored AI’s dual nature as both a source of fear and opportunity. In particular, attendees discussed transitioning from AI hype to practical applications, asking: Is AI a threat or a friend?
Veronika shared, “AI isn’t taking our jobs; it’s giving us more paths to explore—more ways to innovate.” Nenad added, “It’s less of a villain and more about working smarter, not harder.”
The second roundtable session focused on talent and adaptability, as participants pondered how to pivot business models while balancing freedom and responsibility in today’s hybrid work environment.
Treasure (Values) Hunt (Day 2)
It was the perfect blend of thought-provoking content and casual networking, with the third session dedicated to modern sales and marketing techniques, emphasizing that “the bait must please the fish and not the fisherman.”
The final roundtable session sparked discussions about co-creation and collaboration. Together, we have found that this is the new way to grow business in our industry, equivalent to the M&A of the last century.
Additionally, session recaps were presented by an insightful panel that included of Dhana Klein from Rheinschrift, Rick Antezana from Dynamic Language, Gaëtan Chrétiennot from Six Continents, and Josef Kubovský from Nimdzi Insights.
It goes without saying, there was more than just work happening. Attendees enjoyed the full Berlin experience, from late-night discussions at the LocDrinks “Meet ELIA” event to a treasure hunt through the city streets (sponsored and organized by Christian Schwendy from Gemino), where we got to explore the city in a fun way, but more importantly we were able to show our strengths, adventurous spirit and get to know each other’s individual personalities.
Nenad joked, “We only got a few hours of sleep each night, but who needs rest when you’ve got currywurst and conversations that last until 2am?”
They both agreed that it felt as though they were part of an extended family—“with Berlin as the cool, artistic uncle who never follows the rules.”
From exciting talks to bonding moments, the MiTRa team is back with fresh ideas, new connections, and, yes, a few killer dancefloor moves.
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Photo Credits: All photos featured in this article were taken from the official ELIA Facebook page and from personal archives.