Sit down with Lila Milioni who initially joined Haymillian as a subtitler but is now a member of the company’s Project Management Team.
Passionate about her work, Lila will go the extra mile to bring to fruition even the most demanding project. She is an excellent team member that colleagues, and vendors alike can count on for assistance and guidance. Meticulous and detail-oriented, she pays attention to every aspect of a project, meeting tight deadlines without compromising the quality of the deliverables.
Her background:
Lila (Aglaia) Milioni holds a BA degree in Translation from the Ionian University of Greece and an MA degree in Cultural Studies from the Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, France. With 14 years of experience in the field, Lila has translated books on various subjects for publishing houses as well as technical texts for companies. Some of her well-known works are Jules Verne’s “A Captain at 15”, Victor Hugo’s “The Miserables” and George Monbiot’s “Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning”.
Later, she also started working as a subtitler; it was in this role that she originally joined Haymillian and is now a Project Manager in our Athens office. Her role focuses on overseeing each localisation project from beginning to completion, ensuring delivery to deadline and in accordance with each project’s requirements.
Let’s get to know her
How did you get into translation and subtitling?
I have always loved learning foreign languages, so translation was the one and only job for me. After getting my BA from Ionian University, I pursued a career in translation (books and publishing houses) at first and later in subtitling.
What does an ordinary day at work look like?
It certainly depends on the day. The one thing that remains the same is that you are never bored as there is a constant change of subject and so many things to do. An ordinary day at work normally includes assigning projects to translators, checking the files to be delivered to the client, making sure you meet the deadlines along with the client’s quality standards and handling any issue that might arise.
Would you say that having worked as a subtitler before taking over your project manager duties has helped you in your new role?
Definitely. As a translator and subtitler, I can assess easier the material and estimate the time needed for the completion of each task quite realistically. Additionally, having been in the subtitler’s position, I know what I should and can expect from them.
What three characteristics are necessary for a Project Manager?
Efficiency, patience and organisational skills.
What do you miss more and what do you miss less from your subtitler’s days?
I sure miss translating, searching for the right words that authentically convey the original meaning of the movie or series I was working on.
What do you like about working at Haymillian?
I like the fact that I’m working in a friendly environment; and that my work is appreciated and rewarded.
If you could share any professional advice that has helped you, what would it be?
When there is a will there is a way. It may not sound as professional as one would expect but it is applicable in every aspect of life. It’s quite useful as many times, in my job, you have to do things that at first seem impossible, but… when there is a will, you can always find a way to manage everything.
What would you like to accomplish within the next 5 years?
Ideally, I would like to create my own business, maybe a small translation company or publishing house or something like that. I have worked so many years and I’d like to use my experience to create something new.
What advice would you give to someone wishing to pursue a career in the localisation industry?
I would ask if he/she has really thought about it! (laughs). No, I would advise them to pursue their dream, keeping in mind that they might encounter many challenges and obstacles, but they should try to overcome each one of them, as the journey in the translation/localisation industry is really worth it!
If you could turn back time, what would you do differently?
Nothing! I chose to study the subjects I loved and pursued the career I dreamed of, so everything is on the right track!
