My Job in 5: Chie Nakano
- Describe your role.
I sell translation rights of our books to foreign publishers so they can publish them in their local language. As we are an illustrated book publisher, most are sold on a co-edition model, which means we print the foreign editions for the clients and oversee the entire production process.
- What do you like best about your role?
Having grown up in a multicultural environment, I love the breadth of countries and languages my role spans – meeting customers from virtually all over the world, gaining appreciation of their cultures. Foreign rights is about collaboration with international partners. It’s exciting to share the success of our books with them.
- Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?
We have an international bestseller inspired by a Korean lifestyle trend – Honjok – on how aloneness transforms and empowers. Ten foreign editions are confirmed, but I’m working on more. I’m also promoting Power Skills, a fabulous TED coach’s guide on how women can understand and use body language to communicate powerfully.
- What skills do you need for your role?
Excellent communication and presentation skills and the ability to prioritise and multitask are essential. Knowledge of foreign languages will give you a head start but, ultimately, it’s a sales job: you need to be a strategic thinker, an astute negotiator and be armed with tons of resilience!
- What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?
Who you know matters in publishing, and many people land their first job through word of mouth – I did. Make the best of events and social media to network with industry people. Ask for advice, introductions, references. Take internships seriously, as if on probation for a job –you never know.