Zachary Haitkin
Year Graduated: 
2010

Senior Localization Program Manager

Avalara

Job description

I create, build, and manage the centralized team and function for translation, localization, globalization, and internationalization operations. This includes vendor, project, and language management to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality translations to internal stakeholders across all platforms (web, product, design, marketing, engineering, etc.)

Why did you choose this program?

Spanish language is my passion. While I'm not a native speaker, learning the language has always come naturally to me and is something I wanted to improve and master. I consider myself to be a lifelong student of the Spanish language and am always looking to learn more. The program at Cal Poly Humboldt offered a unique opportunity to pursue this passion with incredible professors along with interesting and engaging classes.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

Being fluent in another language is critical in the localization industry. During the early part of my career, I was frequently translating materials to and from Spanish which made me a valuable asset at the company and allowed me to move into the localization space which includes much more than just translation.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

My professors were incredible and the program itself was structured in such a way that the classes were diverse enough to give me not just an understanding of the Spanish language, but also an appreciation of Hispanic culture. From classes on Hispanic films to performing in a play written by a member of the staff, I will always cherish my time at Cal Poly Humboldt. I also appreciated that I was able to obtain two B.A.s with only one extra semester of classes. I feel like this also deepened my knowledge of Latin American history and culture in a way that broadened my horizons and outlook on the world in a positive way.

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

Mastering another language can open up a plethora of possibilities in your career path. Having a degree in another language is not just for teaching or translation and interpretation, but can also be incredibly valuable in the localization industry. Coupling a language degree with a certification in project or program management opens up a ton of doors for career opportunities at language service providers, translation management software companies, or on the client side (purchasers of these services). The world isn't getting less global, quite the opposite in fact.

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