Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Helena El Masri, Founder of DPSI Online with Helena El Masri, located in Shoreham-by-Sea, United Kingdom.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I run an online school (DPSI Online) for bilinguals who wish to become legal or medical interpreters. Our training connects bilinguals with experienced and reputable professionals in their language combination to acquire the necessary skills to become qualified professional interpreters. Our customers are anyone who speaks a second and/or third language and has the linguistic ability to transfer a message between two languages.

Tell us about yourself

I have been training interpreters and translators for over 20 years. I started teaching in 2000 on the only distance learning program available. Tutorials were done over the phone, and all coursework was submitted through the post. This progressed to teaching remotely in 2005 via email and messenger. And in 2009, I pioneered the first online training programme via DPSI Online with Helena El Masri, and we have trained over 1500 students. I am passionate about providing high-quality online training and mentoring interpreters to become professionals. Our profession is lifelong learning, so every day is full of challenges and more curves in the learning process.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being able to work from anywhere in the world, as traveling is my passion. This allows me to have a great life-work balance, and in the process, it increases creativity and productivity. The other is seeing my past students becoming professionals in their own right, gaining experience, and coming back to collaborate with me and offer their services as tutors and assessors.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

It is sometimes hard to switch off, especially because my work is so varied, interesting, and challenging that it becomes addictive.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Choose a niche that is not saturated.
  2. Make sure you have numerous skills, not just the one you need in the business you wish to start (e.g., accounting, marketing, sales, customer relations). You may need to be a one-person band for a while as you start.
  3. Make sure you are trained and qualified to deliver a professional service. Professionals stand out from the rest.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://dpsionline.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DPSIOnline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DPSIOnline
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenaelmasri/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.