Meet the face
behind the posts

Helping Freelancers Build Better Careers

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Over the years, I’ve had many conversations with translators and other language professionals who are technically very good at what they do but struggle with the business side of freelancing.

They know how to translate.

But they don't always know how to:

• Position themselves professionally

• Create a CV that actually sells their experience

• Build a LinkedIn profile that attracts opportunities

• Communicate confidently with agencies and clients

• Respond to project enquiries professionally

• Find better clients

• Turn one-off projects into consistent work

• Build a freelance career that provides more predictable income

I've experienced many of these things myself, which is why I now offer one-on-one coaching for freelance translators and language professionals, particularly people who are starting out or who already have some clients but want to grow.

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I also offer CV revamps and LinkedIn optimization, helping freelancers make sure their professional profiles accurately communicate the experience, skills and value they already have.

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My goal isn't to teach people how to become someone they're not.

It's to help them recognise the value they already have and learn how to communicate it properly.

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What I Care About

A big part of my work is centered around African languages and making sure they have a meaningful place in the future of technology.

Africa has thousands of languages, yet many of them remain significantly underrepresented in technology, AI and digital products.

As an isiXhosa language professional, I care deeply about linguistic representation, cultural intelligence, quality localization and the responsible development of technology for African users.

I also care about helping language professionals understand that being good at your craft is only one part of building a successful career.

You also need to understand how to market yourself, how to communicate your value, how to build professional relationships and how to turn your expertise into sustainable income.

That's the message I increasingly want to share with other freelancers:

You don't have to wait for someone to discover you. Learn how to position yourself so that the right opportunities can find you.

Today, my work sits at the intersection of language, technology, localization, African languages, freelancing and professional development.

Whether I'm working on African-language localization at Canva, working with language technology, translating, advising other professionals, or helping a freelancer improve their CV or LinkedIn profile, the underlying goal is the same:

To create better opportunities for language professionals and better language experiences for African users.

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More details about me in case you're curious

I’m Ntombovuyo Joy Ngaphu, a language professional, localization specialist, and mentor with more than a decade of experience working in the language industry.

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I started my freelance translation career in 2014, specialising primarily in English-isiXhosa translation and localization. Over the years, I’ve worked across translation, localization, language quality, AI language projects, annotation, subtitling, and language project management, giving me a broad understanding of both the creative and business sides of the language industry.

I studied Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, followed by studies in African Language Studies and translation, including an Honours year.

 

My academic background, combined with more than a decade of practical industry experience, has shaped the way I approach language: not simply as words that need to be translated, but as something deeply connected to culture, communication, technology and people.

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Professionally, I currently work at Canva as a Language Manager for Africa, where I focus on language and localization across the African market. Before joining Canva, I worked at RWS Group, where I held roles involving language specialization, project management and multilingual language operations.

 

My experience at RWS also exposed me to areas such as AI annotation, African-language data, localization and the challenges that technology still faces when working with African languages.

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Alongside my corporate work, I have continued to build my brand and identity as language specialist and industry professional.

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