Meet Abel Kalpinand Prasad of Abel Kalpinand Prasad Financial Services

Abel Kalpinand Prasad is based in Sydney, Australia and is about to launch a company called Abel Kalpinand Prasad Financial Services. The idea of the new company is to help low income earners achieve affordable loans. Abel worked in the banking industry for twenty years for Commonwealth Bank, Police Credit Union, and Bank of New South Wales. He has a beautiful wife named Annelise Oriti.

1. What motivated you to launch your own company, Abel Kalpinand Prasad Financial Services?

In early 2006, I was working for Bank of New South Wales as a private banker. I completed numerous tasks for the top 1% of Sydney's richest. Whilst working for them, I noted that the majority of them did have to worry about loan repayments. They had too much money and spent it on worthless items.

I started to get bored and moved to retail banking and saw everyday people come in worried about how they would make their next repayment. They couldn't afford the increasing interest rates. It was then I decided that we needed to start a business to help them manage their expenses and keep up with their repayments.

2. Would you tell us a little more about the services your company will provide?

We have sixteen private investors who have pulled together a sum of $45,000,000 of which we will provide people with low percentage loans.

3. What are some of the most important things you've learned in your twenty years of experience in the banking field?

Only that family is important, and you must always look after your family before work.

4. How would you describe the financial climate of Australia today, and what can Australians do to improve their own financial profile?

The market is very volatile at the moment. More and more people tend to borrow instead of using their own money.

I've taught my children only spend what you have. If you don't have the money, don't spend it.

5. On a more personal note, what do you and your wife like best about living in Sydney?

We love the outdoor environment and the relaxing nature of the suburbs.

Thanks, Abel!

Meet Costa Vasili, CEO of Sydney Translations

Costa Vasili is the CEO of Sydney Translations, a premium translation agency in Australia providing NAATI accredited and certified professional translation services in over 150 languages. The people at Sydney Translations believe that communication is at the very core of a well-functioning society and because of this, they work with the private and public sector to ensure communication can occur across linguistic barriers.

1. As a translation service based in Australia, what languages are you most commonly asked to translate?

At Sydney Translations, the languages that we get the most requests to complete translation projects in are largely influenced by the migrant populations that have moved to Australia over many decades. Our top ten languages that we work in are Malay, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Croatian, Thai, and Portuguese. These languages are in keeping with large migrant populations that have moved to Australia.

2. How do you find the best translators to work for your company?

The best translators that we work with are ordinarily found through our industry contacts and through recommendations. The best translators conduct themselves in a professional manner, meet their deadlines, and check for accuracy before submitting translation deliverables. Building a strong relationship with your translation team helps to build trust and mutual respect, leading to a long and successful partnership. For example, an Arabic translator in Sydney that we work with has never missed a deadline in over 100 assignments and has always received positive feedback from our clients.

3. What are some factors that keep your services so affordable?

Utilizing the latest in technology to drive process improvement and efficiency is absolutely essential to ensuring that we can provide an extremely affordable translation service. At Sydney Translations we operate an extremely lean delivery model to ensure that there are no unnecessary overheads being added to our clients' invoices.

4. When it comes to effective translations, what helps translators achieve speed in their work while also maintaining a high degree of accuracy?

There are a number of Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools that translators can use to improve translation accuracy and speed up work. CAT tools help to predict translations, remove repetition, and utilize glossaries to improve translation accuracy.

5. For people seeking translation services, what would your advice be in terms of how to find the best translators for their specific job?

To find the best translation service for your needs, ensure that you work exclusively with translation professionals (not bilingual friends or colleagues). Just because someone can speak two languages doesn't mean that they can effectively translate for you, particularly when it comes to technical subject matter. Seek out translation agencies that work with accredited translators and that are able to explain to you how their unique translation delivery model can help you maintain translation accuracy whilst meeting deadlines and working within your budget.

Thanks, Costa!

A Blog by Claudia Silva from Australia

One of the pleasures of reading blogs is learning about the perspectives of people all over the world. Claudia Silva is a blogger who lives in Sydney, Australia. Claudia's blog is part of the Empower Network, a membership-based and commission-based blogging system with partners in many different countries.

Claudia is the mom of two young boys, and some of her posts relate to issues regarding family and health, such as a recent post about sodium fluoride. She also posts frequently about business and entrepreneurship. And if you like videos, you'll love Claudia's blog as she frequently shares videos made by friends and business associates of hers, as well as favorites she finds on YouTube.

One of my favorite posts of hers features a selection of quotes by Khalil Gibran, including the following: "You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be." Like many bloggers, Claudia is exploring new ways to think and be through sharing online.

Meet Eastside Travel

Eastside Travel is a corporate travel agency. In their own words, "We are based in Sydney, Australia. We provide a full range of travel services to businesses in Eastern Suburbs and Sydney CBD region of Sydney, Australia. Services we offer include: airline bookings, hotel reservations, travel insurance, visa applications, airport transfers, car hire, etc."

1. What special services do you offer as a corporate travel agency (that customers might not find through a more general agency)?

Corporate Travel services that target businesses in the city of Sydney, and the surrounding Eastern Suburbs.

2. In addition to helping companies local to Sydney, do you also offer assistance to people who need to travel to Sydney on business?

Yes, we currently provide corporate travel services for a large U.S based investment banking company who has a satellite office based here in Sydney.

3. In the current economy where airfares and other travel expenses can be high, what are some suggestions you can offer to travelers looking for savings?

Where possible, try to book your travel as far in advance as possible. Airfare prices increase as you get closer to the departure date.

4. What are some practices you follow in your agency to give helpful, individualized service to each of your clients?

Get to know your client. Meet and speak with them on a regular basis. Try to know what their future travel plans are for so that you can plan ahead for them.

5. What are your top three tips for businesspeople who know they will be doing a lot of travel in 2013?

1. Try to plan you schedule as far as possible in advance.
2. Work closely with your travel agent who can suggest the most efficient and cost effective travel routes.
3. Make sure you chose a corporate travel agency that provides 24/7 support for wherever you are in the world.