We asked Canadian transcriber,  Diana Corrado, to share her transcription journey with us and how her life has changed since she began as a solo transcriptionist until owning her own company, Aerora Transcription.  Her success has been incredible, and she is happy to tell us her back story.

So … let’s get started!

Where are you located, Diana?

I’m located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

How long has your company, Aerora Transcription, been in business?

We will be three years old in October 2020.

Can you tell us a little about your background and what led to your decision to open a transcription company?

Sure.  I initially looked into transcription to supplement income from my part-time job in retail. Soon, I realized how extremely busy and lucrative legal transcription can be.  That’s when I decided to go full-time as an independent transcriptionist.

I then saw how the task was insurmountable on my own and started hiring others to help me with the workload.

Do you have any national certifications, Diana?

No, I do not.  But I would like to work towards my AAERT certification, as it’s recognized in both Canada and the U.S.

I am currently enrolled in the Learn To Transcribe courses as my baby step towards that goal.

What types of transcription does your company specialize in?

We do almost exclusively legal but have some broadcast avenues, such as podcasts, as well as supporting education facilities with their transcription needs.

RELATED:  Legal Transcription.

Are you also a working transcriptionist in your business?

Yes. I support others on their jobs and type my own as well.

Do you employ transcriptionists only from certain countries or from anywhere?

I work with transcriptionists in Canada and the U.S.A.

What are some of the most common mistakes you see from transcriptionists?

The most common thing I see transcriptionists struggle with is feedback. At first, it can be frustrating to hear you’re not perfect at something, but we can’t be good at something the first time we do it. It takes someone with a lot of dedication, desire to learn, and self-motivation to excel in this profession.

Do you believe that any training is necessary for transcription?

Absolutely! The more training the better. Every transcript you do is a learning experience, but the quickest way to develop your skill is to have somebody knowledgeable guide you through the dos and don’ts so that you don’t develop any bad habits that have to be undone.

Do you have a success story to share with us?

Yes.  I conduct business with over 30 independent transcriptionists. Aerora Transcription has experienced 100 percent growth in revenues every year we’ve been in business and has paid out close to $250,000 in transcriptionist wages since its inception.

I’m very proud of how I’ve developed as a transcriptionist, to be able to teach others, and that others rely on me to get the job done on time and done right.

If you had a word of advice for someone considering transcription, what would you tell them?

Every day is a challenge against timelines and client preferences, but this field is extremely rewarding for those who have good time management and a passion to make their clients happy. There are late nights and long days, but every page is worth it.

It’s important to look at every day as brand new and seek to learn as much as you can. The knowledge required for this field is limitless, but it’s our job to try to soak up as much of that as possible.

And, finally, what do you foresee as the future for the transcription industry?

I see the beautiful integration of technology and humans intertwining in the future.

Many people think that AI (artificial intelligence) is ready to take over human transcriptionists. I don’t think it’s there yet. I certainly think it’s there to assist us and make our jobs easier, but a computer’s limited resources will never be able to untangle the complicated web of accents, and slurs, and dropped words that a well-trained transcriptionist can.

Want to contact Diana?

We can’t thank Diana enough for sharing her journey and insights with us.  You can find her at her website, Aerora Transcription, or on LinkedIn and Facebook.  Get in touch with her for your transcription needs!