Anna Sjöström

Where You Live: Montreal
Company: Babel Media
Job Title: Business Development Manager

Describe your job/role?
The major part of my role at Babel is account management. I work with clients including SEGA, Activision, THQ and SCi, increasing the volume of work that goes through Babel, as well as the range of services we cover (translation, audio recording, functionality/localisation testing and marketing services). This also includes writing proposals at the pitch stage and negotiating rates. My aim is often long-term contract commitments rather than one-off projects.

I also act as the link between the client operations both before, during and after projects are complete. If there are problems, I ensure a solution is found and communicated to all parties. On larger projects, I often act as a producer, overseeing each element of the project, ensuring smooth handover and feedback. The role also involves developing and selling new service offerings to existing clients.

What is the best thing about your job?
The job is really varied and I have the chance to really get to know my clients and colleagues. When I was approached for this job, I made it clear that I did not want be a cold caller and luckily my voice was heard. At Babel, I deal with people from all sides of the industry, including the game producers, quality assurance (QA) managers, localisation managers and marketing managers. It's also great seeing clients grow from the first meeting to trusting us with their AAA titles.

What attracted you to it?
To be honest, I wasn't too keen on a sales job but thought it would be a good career move. I had worked at Babel previously and had good friends within the company. I also knew the role would be varied and would be people facing. It also gave me a chance to get to know the industry better.

What schools did you go to and what subjects did you take?
I moved to London from Sweden when I was five. Kicking and screaming, I was immediately dragged off to the local primary school where I stayed for three years. I then continued at the Swedish school in Hammersmith for six years before moving to Southbank American International School. I didn't want to do A' Levels as I wanted the option to go to University in Sweden so I took seven subjects on the International Baccalaureate (I.B) at Southbank. I focused on Drama, English, Swedish and French.

What was your favourite subject and why?
Theatre arts - I loved acting and still do. I was in all of the school productions, often including singing and dancing. I was selected for International Schools' Theatre Association (ISTA), which performed annually in a different European city. It sounds cheesy but I loved the freedom of expression.

Did you go to University / College and if so what did you study?
I studied Psychology at Sussex University for a year but couldn't stand all the statistics involved so I changed and completed a degree in Media Studies.

What was your first job?
I spent a summer as Assistant Producer for a snowboard program called Ra, aired on Five. It included filming and interviewing but also hours of logging and transcription of interviews and other boring things - but at least I didn't have to make a single cup of tea!

What does your career path look like?
During university, I worked for the Essential Festival in Brighton, as PR Coordinator. Once I completed my degree, I wanted to go snowboarding for the winter but needed to work for three months before I left. I applied to be a Swedish Language Tester with Babel back in 1999, but there were no vacancies. Instead, they asked me to join as Office Manager/ Personal Assistant to the Managing Director, Algy Williams. I decided to put my travel plans on hold and this soon turned into a PR and marketing role. I also managed all of Babel's online marketing campaigns on behalf of Sony Ericsson.

After a year at Babel, I spent two years snowboarding in Canada and New Zealand, where I also worked as a photographer and journalist. I then returned to Sweden, where I received a call from Babel asking if I could cover maternity leave within business development. Before I had a chance to start this, I was also asked to cover as a Localisation Project Manager for six months. Following this, I was given the choice of which position I wanted to take on full-time.

Which women have inspired and influenced your career?
I have worked with quite a few very strong women, clients mostly. You have to be very strong willed and strong minded to work in this industry, especially with the developers and it is mainly men who are in these positions. There are a lot of strong women within the games industry, like Vanessa Wood at Sony, who has done very well in their careers that I admire.

What would you say is your strongest attribute/s?
Being able to juggle countless projects, service lines and clients simultaneously and adapt to whatever situation comes my way.

What do you think is the most exciting/interesting thing about working in the digital media industry?
How quickly it evolves. One day is rarely like the next. When I first started here, Babel had only just moved out of a small flat in Hove and there were 13 employees. Our Managing Director, Algy Williams, realised there was a gap in the market for the outsourcing of games services. Now it's the norm and we have 85 full-time staff plus another 150 freelance testers. The games industry itself has of course also evolved massively. We are all looking forward to the next generation, which is just around the corner.

What advice would you give to people who consider entering the digital media industry?
If you see a job advertised that isn't exactly what you're after, but you have transferable skills from another industry - go for it. There's usually room to move around if you show that you can adapt easily to new areas. Just be positive and be willing to do a bit of extra work in order to move in the direction you want.