LocWorld 45 welcomed an incredible Keynote speaker last week: Faiza Sultan. A renowned translator, interpreter, publisher, poet, public speaker, and — as of late — Harvard Business School student, Faiza’s journey was anything but linear. 

As a Kurdish woman growing up in Iraq during several periods of upheaval, Faiza was often met with doubt. She is the ninth of a family of ten children; her mother lost two baby sisters before her birth. She survived birth, which is why her mother named her “Faiza” — “the winner.” She certainly grew into her name, as she overcame societal expectations and became a key team member on the Mosul University Women’s Volleyball and Basketball teams. She would go on to work as an interpreter, both in Iraq, and later, the United States. She overcame a divorce and the struggles of being a single mother, all while establishing her own translation company, “Translation for All.” Her company’s massive success led her to lead several high-profile translation cases for the US and beyond. She’s a decorated translator, a prolific poet, and a true shepherd of cultural awareness. 

Faiza ends her presentation with a Miranda Marrott quote by which she lives:

“I choose to live by choice, not by chance; to make changes, not excuses; to be motivated, not manipulated; to be useful, not used; to excel, not to compete. I choose self-esteem, not self-pity. I choose to listen to my inner voice, not the random opinion of others. I choose to be me.”

Find the full presentation here to learn more about Faiza’s powerful journey.