Nor Azlina Samin

Brainstormer, Change Agent, Concerned citizen, Connector, Environmentalist, Event planner, Idea generator, Job-seeker, Journalist, Life mentor, Marketer, Muslim, Parent, Project manager, Promoter, Technologist, World traveler, Writer/Editor

My TED Story I have always believed that language is more than just words. It is the bridge that connects ideas, cultures, and people. Growing up in Sarawak and later living in the UAE, the UK, and South Korea as a trailing spouse, I experienced firsthand how communication can either unite or separate us. Whenever I watched TED Talks, I was struck by how powerful ideas could change perspectives, yet I also realised that many people in my community might miss out simply because the talks were not in a language they were most comfortable with. That awareness planted a seed in me: one day, I wanted to help bring these ideas closer to Malay-speaking audiences. My professional background is in media and communications, with over a decade of experience in journalism, corporate communications, and content development. I have written, edited, and translated across different industries, always with a focus on clarity and accuracy. In recent years, I decided to fully pivot into translation and subtitling, completing the Intensive General Translation Course with Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia (ITBM) and a Professional Translation Course with PPM-DBP. These programs sharpened my skills not just in linguistic accuracy but also in cultural adaptation. Ensuring that meaning, tone, and nuance are preserved for the target audience. Becoming a TED Translator is a natural step in my journey. TED’s mission that “Ideas worth spreading” which aligns perfectly with my personal belief that knowledge should be accessible to everyone, regardless of language barriers. Translating a TED Talk is not simply about replacing words from English into Malay; it is about carrying the speaker’s voice, emotion, and message into another cultural context so that the impact remains intact. It is a process that demands both technical skill and empathy, and I am deeply committed to delivering translations that feel natural, accurate, and inspiring. Through TED Translators, I hope to make a meaningful contribution by expanding access to talks that can spark curiosity, inspire action, and ignite positive change in my community. My goal is to help more Malaysians especially students, educators, and lifelong learners, engage with global ideas in a language that resonates with them. This is more than just volunteer work for me; it is part of a lifelong passion to use my skills to bridge worlds and make important knowledge available to those who might otherwise be left out of the conversation. I look forward to continuing this journey, one translation at a time.

People don’t know I’m good at Many people know me as a communicator and translator, but not everyone realises that I’m also skilled at managing complex projects with calm precision — whether it’s leading a community initiative to produce over 10,000 pieces of PPE during the pandemic or coordinating multilingual content under tight deadlines. I have an eye for detail that comes from years of editing and proofreading, paired with the ability to quickly adapt to new tools and workflows. I’m also good at connecting with people from different backgrounds — a skill honed through living in multiple countries and navigating different cultures. This helps me not only in translation, where cultural nuance is everything, but also in creating an environment where collaboration feels natural and productive. On a lighter note, I’m surprisingly resourceful when it comes to solving “impossible” problems — from finding a creative subtitle solution for a tricky idiom to figuring out how to make an urgent project work with limited resources. I believe every challenge has a way forward if you combine creativity, empathy, and a willingness to learn.