Meet BeTranslated’s CEO: Michael Bastin’s Journey From Language Lover to Translation Entrepreneur

How a Childhood Passion for Languages Built a Leading European Translation Agency

TechBehemoths, a German platform that connects projects with reputable IT companies, recently sat down with Michael Bastin, CEO and project manager of BeTranslated.

Following their post of his story on their website, we’re happy to share some highlights with you here.

What does it take to build a professional translation company from scratch, keep it running for over two decades, and still wake up excited about the work?

Michael shares the answer to that question, along with stories about the Dominican Republic, office mascot Milo, and what “success” really looks like when you’re the one steering the ship.

From Holiday Camp to Career Path

Michael’s love for languages started young.

At ten years old, he picked up German at a holiday camp, and something clicked.

“My first exposure to foreign languages was at a holiday camp and that was when I decided to become a translator,” he says.

He went on to study languages in high school, traveled to the US, and earned his degree in translation at the University of Mons.

Then came what he calls his “serial ex-pat” years, living between the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

After 16 years in the Caribbean, Michael felt it was time to move closer to his core market: France and Belgium.

But gray Northern European skies didn’t exactly appeal to him.

So he chose Spain, which, as he puts it, offered the best of both worlds.

How BeTranslated Got Started

Here’s where the story gets interesting.

Michael developed an interest in SEO well before Google even existed.

During his time working for iLanguage.com in the Dominican Republic, he was tasked with writing a business plan.

The company didn’t really act on it.

So, after two years, Michael took his own plan and ran with it.

“Back then, my boss had the idea of having 400 translators work at the same location,” Michael recalls.

His approach was different: hire professional translators only when there’s work, bring on project managers, and operate remotely.

In 2002, that model was far from mainstream.

Today, of course, it’s standard practice across the translation services industry.

BeTranslated launched in August 2002, and the remote-first approach turned out to be ahead of its time.

What Keeps Michael Going?

“Coffee!” he laughs.

Beyond caffeine, Michael credits a few key habits for staying productive.

Bringing in interns, he says, refreshes his passion for the work.

“Teaching the younger generation gives me a sense of purpose, beyond just thinking about how to bring in revenue.”

Passing on years of accumulated knowledge to the next generation of language professionals keeps things fresh.

And then there’s Milo, the office mascot, who apparently deserves some credit too.

What Does Success Look Like?

For many entrepreneurs, success means revenue targets or market share.

Michael sees it differently.

“For me it would really be to have my business run itself without me being there so many hours,” he says.

Plenty of vacations, less stress, and maybe handing the pressure over to someone else.

It’s refreshingly honest.

And it probably resonates with anyone who has ever run a business, whether it’s a translation service provider or any other kind of company.

Life Outside the Office

Michael’s philosophy is simple: work hard, rest hard.

Travel has always been a major motivation.

Meeting with friends, playing poker, heading to the beach.

Before the pandemic, he would often visit the Dominican Republic with his family, a place that clearly still holds a special place in his heart.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Michael’s advice for anyone starting out?

“You have to really believe in what you do, to believe that what you’re doing makes sense and that you’re going to reach your objective one day.”

He also cautions against rushing toward your goals.

“Don’t try to reach your objectives too quickly because then you’ll feel lost afterward.”

When Michael arrived in Spain, he focused on building the .com website.

Now BeTranslated has sites in English (UK), French and more, alongside dedicated pages for languages such as Korean translation, Lithuanian and Russian.

Keeping up with new technical challenges, like multilingual SEO and website translation, is what keeps things exciting over two decades in.

His final piece of advice: set short-term, mid-term, and long-term objectives.

Build up to your final goals step by step.

And preserve your work-life balance.

“It’s a cliché,” he admits, “but it is also very true.”

Want to Work With BeTranslated?

BeTranslated is recognized as one of the most reputable companies on TechBehemoths.

If Michael’s story resonates with you and you need help with document translation, sworn translation, interpreting services, or marketing translation, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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