My Ciklopea Story: Dejan Prebeg

How did you get into the language industry?

I heard about Ciklopea while I was still working at the biggest telecommunications company in Croatia. The HR manager knew about my skills, so she invited me to test my strengths in the language industry. All I can say now is that I am very happy to handle projects just as successfully in an entirely different environment.

What’s the driving force of your job?

The clients’ satisfaction is what inspires me every day. A smile on the faces of my clients makes me come to work smiling, even on Mondays – and we all know that nobody likes Mondays! Joking aside, my clients inspire me to constantly pursue better solutions and provide them with a service of even higher-quality and stronger support.

What do you think is the hardest thing for clients to understand about the language technology and the localization process?

I think some clients have difficulties understanding the complexity of the translation process and the challenges of tight deadlines. Project management includes a wide range of activities that may seem somewhat abstract, such as setting up the project, establishing delivery deadlines, assembling a project team, quality assurance, checking compliance with the client’s terms and instructions, performing desktop publishing, etc. It’s demanding only to list these phases, let alone connecting, organizing and controlling all the segments.

What are the advantages of language technology and why is it important to use it?

Technology is as important in the language industry as a ball is for playing football. Of course, language is the foundation of everything, but technology ensures efficiency, quality and speed. Language and technology are closely related, like a medicine and a PIL.

Translation of technical documentation requires an organized approach to work. Without a doubt, consistent quality and a tight delivery deadline could not be achieved in connection with these types of texts without technology.

You are known as the Across guy. Why did you choose Across as a primary tool for your projects?

It was love at first sight. Across is a very smart tool, strong-willed just like I am, in the most positive sense. It has a lot of useful features that make every user’s work easier. This tool is completely different from the rest. It is very user friendly and once you gain a sense of its logic, it quickly becomes your favorite. This is just like describing myself. One simply senses the love, am I right?

What’s the most challenging/interesting thing about it?

The most challenging thing is to understand its specificity.

How has Across helped you or made your job easier?

It has the simplest system for monitoring and working with licenses. It provides a comprehensive insight into project history and the logic behind the project management is very clear.

What is your piece of advice to other localization project managers?

I would advise them to build good relationships with their clients and vendors on trust. A successful day for me is when I meet the needs of both the client and the vendor.

What are your passions outside the office?

Basketball is my other big passion. A project manager’s job is similar to that of a basketball player – the trust between team members is crucial. I have played basketball for the last 7 years and I still hope to make it to the NBA (of course, when I grow taller by another 20 cm). In addition to basketball, I like martial arts which I have practiced for many years and won numerous medals. Other things that make my day include music, friends and spending time with my son.

An interesting thing about you that nobody knows?

I am a former passionate football fan (a former member of Bad Blue Boys). For years, I have traveled to all the matches of my favorite football club across Europe. Those are wonderful, very vivid memories.

How would you make the world a better place?

I would divide all goods and wealth equally among all the people on the planet. I know this is a utopian idea, but that is how I feel!