We live in a time where global communication is evolving, so we need visionaries who can break down cultural barriers, harness technology, and redefine how we communicate. Isabelle Andrieu, Co-founder of Translated and CEO of Pi School, is a leader driving change in AI, languages, and innovation.
On this episode of The Tech Visionary Show with Rich Bontrager, Isabelle recounts her amazing story as a young linguist in France, to becoming a global entrepreneur and shaping the future of language services and AI-driven education. This article examines their conversation's main takeaways: Andrieu’s entrepreneurial story, her unique approach to AI in translation, and her desire to create a more united and collaborative world.
Isabelle Andrieu’s Background: A Visionary Journey Fueled by Innovation and Human Connection
As co-founder of Translated and CEO of Pi School, Isabelle Andrieu combines linguistic expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for innovation. The journey started in France, where her passion for language and culture started. The foundational and the adventurous move to Italy chiseled her to be a leader redefining how technology and human skills intersect.
Isabelle is also responsible for pioneering the integration of AI with human expertise at Translated, building a scalable model of technological advancement with the human touch. Her company, which has used AI to revolutionize the translation industry since 1999, supports more than 500,000 professional translators worldwide.
Andrieu uses tools like Matecat and groundbreaking AI-driven systems like Lara to ensure that translation services are both innovative and deeply personal. She envisions technology as a partner to, not a substitute for, the human professional, and her work brings greater efficiency and creativity to their work.
Her leadership goes beyond Translated. She bridges the gap between AI theory and real-world application by teaching engineers how to solve industry challenges through hands-on prototyping through Pi School. Passionate about mentorship and innovation, she has launched initiatives across medicine, space exploration, and beyond, all of which she believes AI can help us do good.
Away from her professional life, Isabelle has also been a mother of three. Outside of tech, she and her husband have dived into the Ocean Globe Race, a tough regatta about teamwork and human resilience.
A Leader Committed to Innovation and Human-Centered Technology
In Isabelle Andrieu’s conversation, one of the recurring themes is her commitment to innovation and the natural fusion of human expertise with cutting-edge technology.
She emphasized that Translated was built on the premise that humans and AI can work together to produce amazing results that would fundamentally disrupt the language industry while retaining the importance of human creativity and skill.
“We’ve never created technology against humans. It’s always a combination of humans and technology. AI is a powerful tool to help achieve more.”
The company has grown based on this philosophy and has become a leader in the global translation market, with over 500,000 professional translators working in its network and offering cutting-edge AI solutions such as Lara.
One of the key aspects of Andrieu’s leadership is that she fosters collaboration and adaptability within her organization. Over the last 25 years, she explained, Translated has always evolved, using AI not to replace human translators but to help them. The company also allows translators to maximize productivity using native free tools such as Matecat and take advantage of the most recent AI technologies.
In addition, Andrieu stressed the need for continuous learning and being flexible to change. She said the translation industry has seen a seismic shift in recent years, with AI allowing processes that once took years to be wrapped up in moments. She said, “The more you translate, the more opportunities there are for clients to show the world what they have to offer in different languages.”
Another pillar of her leadership is her commitment to creating growth opportunities. She ensures her team and collaborators thrive through innovation while concentrating on solutions that propel them forward. Her vision for the future is clear: The tools that solve technical challenges must be created in collaboration with AI and human expertise and be tools that foster global understanding.
In her work at Pi School, she continues this approach, helping to train the next generation of AI engineers with hands-on training programs that combine technical innovation with practical application. Andrieu bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world problem solving, equipping professionals to use AI for good and helping companies achieve their goals while creating good.
Bridging Innovation and Education with Pi School
Andrieu’s leadership goes beyond the success of Translated in the field of education and community building with Pi School. Pi School was founded to address the growing demand for AI engineers with the skills to apply their knowledge to real-world problems. The school aims to fill the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application through a unique hands-on training program.
Andrieu said: “AI engineers are rare, and we have to find a way to develop their skills and address real industry challenges.” Pi School is an intensive eight-week program that matches aspiring engineers with companies looking to innovate in AI. Participants work on fast prototyping projects with expert mentors to solve problems in industries such as medicine and transportation.
The Pi School had one standout project—a collaboration with the Vatican City to digitize their ancient Latin-written secret archives—that had never been done before. Applied AI created a groundbreaking system to transcribe the text, and Andrieu’s team was the one to develop it. She shared, “We ensure that the latest AI advancements are always part of what we offer, guaranteeing our partners access to state-of-the-art technology.”
Andrieu stressed, however, that teaching engineers communication and stakeholder engagement skills were just as important as teaching technical expertise. The program ends with a "pitch day," where the participants present their projects, describing the problem, solution, and results. Grads are equipped with the technical skills and the mindset to succeed in their careers in both the technical and collaborative aspects.
Pi School has run over 100 successful projects and embodies Andrieu’s belief in using AI for good. Pi School embodies her desire to build a future where technology amplifies human potential through encouraging innovation, empowering talent, and addressing real-world problems.
Championing Collaboration Between AI and Human Expertise
Isabelle Andrieu emphasizes the importance of bringing together AI innovation with human skills to get the best outcomes. This principle is at the core of how they decide everything at Translated — to use AI to augment, not replace, human talent. Andrieu emphasizes, “We’ve never created technology against humans—it’s always a combination with humans and technology.”
An example is Matecat, a tool that simplifies the translator's workflow by applying AI in the translation. Instead of separating technology from people, Translated provides professionals with the resources to work more efficiently and creatively.
Collaboration is the foundation for innovation, which is why Translated has succeeded and has become a leader in the language services industry, according to Andrieu. Andrieu has used a careful balance of cutting-edge AI tools and a human-centric approach to redefine what’s possible in global communication.
Balancing Leadership, Family, and Personal Growth
Isabelle Andrieu also talks about the challenges and rewards of juggling a demanding career with her personal life. With three kids, she is the mother of three, the co-founder at Translated, and CEO of Pi School, making it challenging to juggle it all at once. “It seems easy from the outside,” she shared, “but sometimes I’m really struggling.”
Andrieu finds meaning in the journey and is inspired by her work's impact on others. But she talks passionately about her responsibility as a leader to give back to her team, community, and family. According to Andrieu, entrepreneurship is about something other than building a business. It’s about leaving a legacy and creating a culture of collaboration, innovation, and personal growth.
In her personal life, she and her husband take on bold, non-technical challenges like the Ocean Globe Race. Her belief in the power of human ingenuity and resilience is underscored by this adventure that took her across the world’s waters without modern technology.
Translated: Bridging Technology and Humanity for a More Connected World
Isabelle Andrieu’s conversation on The Tech Visionary Show was a fascinating look into the mind of a leader who is changing how we communicate globally, all while remaining human. As a young linguist who became a pioneering entrepreneur, she uniquely views the overlap of AI with human expertise. Today, Andrieu is the CEO of Translated and co-founder of Pi School, where she is still pushing the envelope in language services and education.
Andrieu is bullish on AI's role in solving complex problems while keeping human creativity and collaboration front and center. Through her leadership, we see how technology can empower professionals, enable understanding, and provide opportunities for growth across industries.
Isabelle Andrieu is a visionary leader and one to watch in the worlds of AI, language, and innovation. In an ever more connected world, her vision for the future, where technology and humanity collaborate to build bridges between cultures, is hopeful and important.
