Niki Leiper is the Co-Founder and Director of Espresso Translations, a London-based translation agency established in 2011. With a background as a professional translator, she has helped grow the company from its beginnings in Italian-English translation into a global provider covering more than 150 languages with a network of over 2000 translators. Under her direction, Espresso Translations achieved ISO 17100:2015 certification, ensuring the highest quality standards. Niki remains deeply involved in the industry, combining her expertise as a translator with her leadership in project management to oversee the delivery of accurate, timely, and client-focused translation services worldwide.
Company: Espresso Translations
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Nicola Leiper: I am Nicola Leiper, the Founder and Head of Project Management at Espresso Translations. My background is in business administration, and before establishing the company I worked as a translator myself. This gave me a real understanding of the work required to deliver accurate and reliable translations, and it shaped how I wanted our agency to operate.
Espresso Translations began in 2011 and has grown from a small service into a London-based agency working with clients all over the world. Today we cover more than 150 languages and manage a network of over 2000 native translators. Our services include certified and technical document translation, transcription, subtitling, localization, and sworn translation.
We are ISO 17100 certified which means every project is reviewed by a second translator to guarantee quality. My role is to oversee projects and ensure that every client receives translations that are accurate, on time, and handled with care.
How do you personally define success, and how has that definition evolved throughout your career?
Nicola Leiper: My definition of success has always been rooted in the quality of the work we deliver. In the beginning, success felt like simply completing a project on time and having a satisfied client. It was a very direct and immediate measure. I believed that if we could consistently meet deadlines and avoid errors, the business would grow. That focus on operational excellence was the necessary foundation for everything that came after.
Over the years, my view has expanded. Now, I see success as the strength of the relationships we build, both with our clients and our global team of linguists. It is not just about a single transaction but about becoming a trusted partner. When a client returns with a complex, multi-language project because they know we will handle it flawlessly, that is success. Similarly, when a translator has worked with us for a decade, that loyalty reflects a shared commitment to quality that defines the company. Success is the quiet confidence that comes from a reputation built project by project.
What lasting impact do you hope to leave through your business, and what steps are you taking to build that legacy?
Nicola Leiper: The lasting impact I hope for is a change in how people think about translation. I want businesses to see it not as a simple cost but as a fundamental part of their strategy for connecting with the world. Too often, language is an afterthought, and the result is a message that feels clumsy or fails to connect. My goal is for Espresso Translations to be the example that proves meticulous care with language directly supports international growth and builds genuine trust with new audiences.
To build that legacy, my focus is on the people behind the work. I am deeply committed to maintaining a network where professional translators feel valued and respected for their expertise. This means fair compensation and clear communication, treating them as partners rather than just suppliers. When translators are motivated and engaged, the quality of their work is exceptional. This creates a positive cycle where high quality leads to client success, which in turn reinforces the value of skilled linguists. That cycle is the legacy I am working on every day.
Beyond financial success, what initiatives – whether in mentorship, sustainability, or social responsibility – are you most proud of?
Nicola Leiper: The initiative I am most proud of is our pro bono program for non-profit organisations. We set aside a specific portion of our capacity each quarter, around fifteen percent, to provide translation services at no cost to selected charities. We focus on small to medium-sized charities working in areas like humanitarian aid, medical research, and environmental conservation, where clear communication across languages can have a direct impact on their mission.
This is not just about donating services. It is about applying our full quality process to these projects. The document for a charity distributing medical supplies undergoes the same native translator and second proofreader check as a contract for a corporate client. This ensures their message is conveyed with the same accuracy and professionalism. Seeing a small charity use our translated materials to secure funding or provide clear instructions in a crisis zone provides a deep sense of purpose. It connects our daily work directly to a tangible, positive outcome in the world.
What lessons have you learned about leadership that you wish more entrepreneurs understood early on?
Nicola Leiper: The lesson I learned about leadership that I wish more entrepreneurs understood early on is that you cannot grow if you try to control every detail yourself. In the beginning, I handled every client email, every translator assignment, and every deadline. It gave me confidence but it left no room for scale. I had to accept that leadership means building systems and trusting people to follow them.
When I began documenting workflows and training project managers to take ownership, the company moved forward faster than I could have managed alone. It was not about letting go completely but about creating standards so others could deliver the same quality I expected of myself. That shift gave me the space to focus on strategy and growth.
If entrepreneurs understood that leadership is not about doing more but about enabling others to succeed, they would build stronger businesses from the start.
Looking ahead, how do you see your industry evolving, and what role do you hope to play in shaping its future?
Nicola Leiper: I see the translation industry moving toward a more integrated future where technology handles the basic groundwork and human expertise provides the final polish. Machine translation is becoming a powerful tool for generating initial drafts very quickly, especially for large volumes of text. The real evolution, however, lies in how we use these tools. The industry’s value will shift even more decisively toward expert human review, cultural adaptation, and ensuring that the translated content carries the intended meaning and nuance, not just the correct words.
My hope is to play a role in championing this collaborative model. I want Espresso Translations to be an example of how technology and human skill can work together to achieve higher quality and efficiency, not as opposing forces. This means developing clear workflows where machines assist with speed and humans guarantee accuracy and cultural sensitivity. I aim to demonstrate that this approach delivers a superior result, encouraging a industry-wide standard that prioritizes meaningful communication over simple word substitution. The goal is to elevate the perception of translation from a clerical task to a strategic partnership essential for global connection.
