Welcome to
MULTILATERAL
Where words matter, clarity is queen, and communicating effectively across cultures has taken the place of plain bilingualism as the new way to strengthen your connections, close deals, and make it happen.
I am proud to bring clarity and ease to the Anglo-LatAm table.
My Story
Born in Buenos Aires and a Londoner by choice, I have lived and worked on both sides of the ocean – a foot on each side of the language and cultural divide. Over the years, as the lead diplomatic interpreter at MULTILATERAL, I have assisted heads of state, ministers, governors, CEO’s, change-makers, writers, royalty, Nobel Prize winners, museum curators, and countless experts.
In 2022, I published WELCOME! – the only practical guide to diplomatic interpreting in the 21st century, and this year, I created The P.I.C.I. Method™ – a roadmap to effective intercultural engagement between Latin America and the United Kingdom.
Some of the sectors I specialise in
Government
International affairs, policy, security & defence
Business
Export & finance, trade & development
Technology
Infrastructure, transport & aerospace
Environment
Food & agriculture, energy & mining
Advocacy
Human & workers’ rights, gender issues
Culture
Lifestyle, food & fashion, art & media
The MULTILATERAL Way
Be useful
I believe we are part of your team, even if only for a few days or hours and, as such, we are here to help you. The secret of good interpreting is to put our entire beings at the service of your message so that you can communicate seamlessly.
Protect confidentiality
Interpreters never interpret and tell. We are unable to repeat it back – even if we wanted to, anyway. However, at MULTILATERAL we take confidentiality one step further and follow The Othello Principle.
Be respectful
It is not about us, it is about you. Our mission is to respect and honour your message; that includes its content as much as its context, its cultural background, and the communicative intent behind it.
Be fair & transparent
From pricing, scope of work, and terms of service to potential conflicts of interest, fairness and transparency are the beating heart of MULTILATERAL.
Mind the little things
The devil is in the detail, and so is success. In languages and in good cross-cultural communication, details do matter. It is not about translating it ‘roughly’; it is about conveying exactly what you said but in the other language.
Keep it personal
Knowing our clients and our clients knowing us allow us to anticipate their needs, adapt to their requirements before they ask, and make the experience of working with us all the better because of it.
Is MULTILATERAL a translation agency?
Multilateral is not a translation agency. It is a professional services company with a strong emphasis in languages and strategic intercultural communication run by its owner and lead interpreter, Cecilia Lipovsek.
However, as I can only be in one place at any given time, I sometimes rely on my select network of trusted colleagues and key partners to ensure my clients receive the world-class service they deserve.
Why are there no interpreting jobs listed on your website?
I purposely do not list any interpreting jobs on my website nor talk about them on social media. This is to protect my clients’ confidentiality as well as that of the events and projects my team and I assist them with.
Those whose praise about our work are featured as testimonials in my website have given their express consent and authorisation.
You see, discretion and confidentiality are essential in my line of work. So, you will not find any client lists, names or logos – nor any behind-the-scenes tales – here nor in my social media channels.
I call this type of all-around discretion and confidentiality The Othello Principle.
Do you work with more languages other than Spanish, English, and Portuguese?
No, quality and excellence are central to The MULTILATERAL Way and I cannot guarantee either unless I speak the language myself.
Therefore, I only work with English, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese.
This is one of the biggest differences between MULTILATERAL and most interpreting agencies out there: ultra-specialised, hands-on quality guarantee.
However, if you do need support in other languages, do not hesitate to contact me. I will gladly put you in touch with a trusted colleague.
Who are the members of your team?
My team is comprised of a small group of hand-picked colleagues who are outstanding interpreters but, most importantly, share the values in The MULTILATERAL Way.
I have personally worked with each one of them before inviting them to join my team; that is how I know they are up to the mark – and more.
Do you provide interpreting services in other countries?
Yes and no.
Let’s see, if you need our support with a conference-like Expert Session – be it online, in-venue, or hybrid – then, yes I do!
However, if you need my support with a Diplomatic Mission, then I do not.
See, diplomatic work requires deep cultural-sensitivity; therefore, in order to do a good job, it is best for interpreters to ‘be from’ the context in which the mission is happening as we need to have thorough understanding of the cultural dynamics and linguistic nuances at play. My team and I get to be outstanding by being immersed in the host culture and knowing how to best translate its subtleties into the visiting culture/s own frameworks, among other reasons.
Also, diplomatic situations tend to be unpredictable and, in consequence, difficult to manage at a distance – at least not with the professional, discerning touch my clients are accustomed to.
So, if you are coming to the UK with a Latin American delegation, I will be delighted to assist you! And, if you need support with a mission to another country, then I will gladly put you in touch with trusted colleagues around the world.
What is The P.I.C.I. Method™?
The P.I.C.I. Method™ is a 4-stage system that combines language support, intercultural engagement, and strategic communication with my decades of experience as an interpreter on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to give you 100% top-level, round support for your Anglo-LatAm relations.
The four stages are:
- Prepare
- Interact
- Connect
- Impact
At MULTILATERAL, I have created the exact type of support for each stage:
- Prepare: The Engagement Workshop™
- Interact: The Mission Companion™
- Connect: The Great Connector Roadmap™
- Impact: The Impact Toolkit™
Plus, my MULTILATERAL Club™ to provide you with ongoing bilingual support as you craft, devise, and implement The P.I.C.I. Method™.
What are the MULTILATERAL Notes™?
The MULTILATERAL Notes ™ are a collection of insights, tips, and resources about multilingual communication, intercultural engagement, Latin America and the UK by experts in their fields.
The MULTILATERAL Notes ™ are available for free to anyone who is interested.
You are welcome to subscribe and get them straight in your inbox or you can also follow MULTILATERAL on social media and enjoy them there: