In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Bryan Murphy, CEO of Smartling - a leader in translation and localization whose mission is simple but powerful: help brands speak to the world in its own languages.
Bryan doesn’t come across like your standard tech exec. He’s a gardener at heart, someone who likes to grow things - whether that’s plants, businesses, or people. And that instinct shows up in how he leads Smartling.
Tune in to hear:
Why global brands are mandating AI adoption in 2025 - and how Smartling is delivering on it
How multilingual content drives organic traffic and digital growth in international markets
The cultural nuance of localization (why Canadian French ≠ French French, and why it matters)
How Bryan approaches fear and skepticism around AI in the workforce - and why learning the skill set is non-negotiable
The personal leadership lessons that carried him through crisis and into long-term success
At its core, this episode is about connection - between brands and their customers, between leaders and their teams, and between language and meaning.
Bryan doesn’t just translate content. He translates possibility.
And in a world moving this fast, that’s the kind of leadership we need.
Chapters:
00:01:22 – How Smartling Helps Global Brands Like Tesla, Apple & Disney
00:03:30 – AI Translation: Cutting Costs & Growing Digital Footprints
00:06:35 – Unique Languages & Emerging Localization Trends
00:08:28 – Fear of AI vs. Curiosity: Why Skills Matter More Than Ever
00:11:13 – Christy’s First AI Experiment: From Poems to Prompts
00:12:53 – Top 3 Ways to Learn AI Skills Fast
00:14:34 – From Google to GPT: How Search Behavior Is Changing
00:19:18 – AI Vocabulary & The Challenge of Clear Communication
00:23:07 – Localization Done Right: Brand Voice & Cultural Nuance
00:25:52 – Leadership in Crisis: Lessons from Losing a Business in COVID
00:28:12 – A Defining Moment: Loss, Resilience & Leading Through Tragedy
00:32:30 – What Bryan Murphy Does Best as a CEO
00:34:39 – Final Takeaways: The Power of Language to Connect the World
| Connect with Us |
Learn more about Smartling:
https://www.smartling.com/
Follow Bryan Murphy:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmurphy2/
(Bryan helps global brands speak every customer’s language - building trust and driving growth through Smartling’s LanguageAI platform. With two decades of experience scaling e-commerce and SaaS companies, including leadership at eBay and co-founding WHI Solutions, he blends technology with empathy to make localization fast, accurate, and human. Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and recognized on a16z’s Marketplace 100, Bryan doesn’t just lead companies - he builds teams and tools that connect the world.)
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