Pat Gutierrez, President of When Every Word Counts

Tell us a little about your company or service.

Professional Interpreting Associates is a nationwide company specializing in providing language assistance to law firms and individuals.

How did you get into this field?

I have been a professional interpreter for over 30 years, but as a child of immigrants, I have been doing it my whole life.

Do you wish others would join this industry? Do you want to encourage the next generation to get into this field?

Absolutely. I mentor new interpreters and assist new attorneys in ways to work with interpreters.

Who are you outside of work? What do you enjoy? When you're not working, what matters most to you? What keeps you grounded outside of the business?

My family, the book I am writing, giving back to the community, reading, traveling.

What's your favorite local restaurant?

Banchero's, Weston, FL. Regarding the drink, I am from Argentina, so I drink MATE.

Coffee, tea, or energy drink?

None of the above.

What do you think has been the biggest factor in you or your company's success?

We have what we call a PIA culture. I would love to share with you a recent interview that Ms. Esquire did, and you can learn more about me.

What is something you or your company does differently that you think has made a real difference?

We offer white-glove service and know each client's needs in order to assign the appropriate interpreter.

What's something you know now about your career or running a business that you wish you knew when you started?

Even if it's scary to take the next step to grow, it's the fear that drives you to succeed.

What do you think separates a really great company or professional from an average one?

Each team membernot only staff but subcontractors alsomust feel ownership in the company. They are your representatives and your first clients, actually. They must believe in your company as much as you do.

What's a "small" detail in your work that actually matters, that nobody outside the industry realizes is important?

You must go into each assignment with a sense of confidence and calm in order to provide excellent interpreting.

What's one piece of advice you wish you had ignored?

What's the best marketing idea you've ever tried?

We give attorneys' assistants gift cards during Holidays in July.

What's a totally random skill that makes you good at your job?

I am a great listener. You cannot be a great interpreter or business owner without it.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry right now?

AI. However, I truly believe we can use it to improve our skills and not feel threatened by it.

AI is changing just about everything. Are you excited about AI, worried about it, or somewhere in between?

LOL, I just replied above. AI can never replace a human interpreter; too many nuances cannot be captured.

There are new laws, regulations, technologies, and changes being introduced that could affect how people in your industry work. What changes are you watching most closely, and are there any that concern you?

Like I said, it does not concern me. We provide very personalized service. We know each attorney and what they require in terms of speed, terminology, personalities, etc.

What do you think your job and/or industry is going to look like five or ten years from now?

I am sure it will change in 10 years, but I have faith we will find a way to make AI work with us, not against us.

Where do you think your profession is headed? Do you think technology and AI will replace parts of the profession, or will they ultimately make professionals more valuable?

Answers above, but no, it cannot replace us.

What do you think makes someone great at what they do? And what do you wish more people understood about your profession?

An interpreter is not just being bilingual. It is so much more than languages.

What's one mistake you see people early in their careers making that they could easily avoid?

They do it as a job, and interpreting is a vocation. It's a profession but also an art.

What's your secret to building great relationships with clients and keeping them coming back?

Getting to know them, what they prioritize, and making sure we deliver.

What's the part of your job that you genuinely enjoy the most?

I love mediations, but I love mentoring as well.

What's the biggest goal you have for your company or career over the next few years?

I would love to provide work to more interpreters, and the way to do that is to develop more business partners. I would love to do more pro bono work.

If you could go back to the beginning of your career and give yourself one piece of advice, what would you tell yourself?

In the beginning of my career, I had a terrible experience with an attorney yelling at me. It caused anxiety attacks, and I was not able to do depositions for a couple of years. I should have had more confidence and stood up for myself.

What's something about your industry that you believe strongly about that you think most people would disagree with?

I honestly can't think of any.

What's a moment on the job that reminded you why the work actually matters?

So many: a rape victim, an immigration interview, a 911 suicide call, I could go on and on.

Who was the most memorable person you've ever worked with or for, and why?

Senator John Kerry, Laura Esquivel, author. Each person is memorable in their own way.

What's the proudest "nobody will ever know I did this, but I did" moment of your career?

I interpret wherever I go. If I see someone struggling with communicating, I jump right in.

Contact Pat

Instagram: @wheneverywordcounts
YouTube: When Every Word Counts

www.wheneverywordcounts.com/

877-247-7422

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