From our first collaboration to a shared vision
Annika and Eva first met in 2014 – they started out as freelance translators and interpreters respectively solopreneurs, with a passion for language, quality, and collaboration.
In the first months of her work as a translator, Eva initiated a regular translators’ meetup. Annika also valued the idea of continuous exchange and signed up for the meetup. When Eva was looking for a last-minute replacement for the moderation, Annika stepped in, which sparked the beginning of a trustful and collegial relationship. Annika was immediately enthusiastic about the honest, authentic exchange with Eva and the inspiring way she approached her business.
A few years later, their paths crossed once more. From solopreneurs, they grew into mompreneurs. In this period, too, Annika was once again able to experience, thanks to Eva’s New Work Moms network, how valuable an exchange with like-minded people can be – helping each one to better navigate the highs and lows of profound changes, in this case combining motherhood with self-employment. A personal highlight for both came in 2023: a New Work Moms workation initiated by Eva, where they strengthened their ties and got to know each other even better.
At the same time, the topic of artificial intelligence increasingly came into focus in the language services industry. Annika quickly decided to deepen her expertise in this field, aiming to integrate her professional work seamlessly with technological change. With the field evolving so rapidly, it soon became clear that this challenge is best tackled together rather than alone. When Annika considered who in her professional circle she could envision collaborating with, Eva quickly came to mind. And so this time it was Annika who contacted Eva with the idea of exploring the world of AI tools together and collaborating.
So wurden aus den beiden Solopreneurinnen Annika und Eva die Mompreneurinnen und nun die Techpreneurinnen. Heute bündeln Eva und Annika ihre Kompetenzen unter dem Namen Lingua Intelligence. Somit verbinden sie ihre langjährige Erfahrung in der Sprachdienstleistung mit ihrem erlangten Wissen im Bereich Künstliche Intelligenz.
With solid language expertise and the shared goal of guiding others into the AI powered future of language services, they now support companies and colleagues in recognizing potential, using technologies meaningfully, and working in a future-proof way.
Eva Stiekema
Eva Stiekema is a certified AI manager. Since 2012, she has been working as a freelance translator specializing in IT and marketing as the owner of Linguavision. As a community manager in the business network Citizen Circle she leads an online group on AI and technology and promotes exchange on innovative topics. Drawing on her extensive experience in moderating mastermind groups, particularly as the founder of the network New Work Moms, Eva creates inspiring spaces for exchange and personal growth. Eva lives in Cologne together with her Dutch husband, their daughter, and their cat.
Annika Mattes
Annika Mattes has been working as a freelance conference interpreter and specialized translator for 14 years, focusing on international cooperation, sustainability, education, and law. As a strong believer in lifelong learning, she has been deeply engaged with generative AI since 2023, regularly attending trainings and events to further expand her expertise. As Vice Chair of the Federal Association of Translators and Interpreters NRW (BDÜ NRW), she founded the AI working group with the goal of firmly establishing the topic of AI within the industry. She is the mother of two wonderful sons, and the sea is her source of energy and inspiration.