How to build influence from zero as a localization leader | Smartling Masterclass Series | Session 3

Most localization leaders don't start with big teams, executive sponsorship, or a seat at the table. They start as a team of one—trying to build credibility, navigate organizational politics, and prove value while being told to stay in their lane. In this episode of the Masterclass Series: Lessons from the Best Localization Leaders, Anna Schlegel—who went from being a solo localization hire to becoming the only localization professional to reach General Manager at Procore Technologies—shares the tactical playbook she used to build influence from zero. Through stories from NetApp, Procore, and VMware, Anna reveals how she created her own internal board of stakeholders, navigated organizational silos, and maintained momentum through constant reorganizations, budget cuts, and leadership changes. This isn't aspirational advice—it's the grit, strategy, and systems that actually work when you're building from the ground up. What we cover: How to build a powerful stakeholder network when you’re starting alone Practical tactics to unify siloed teams and position globalization as a growth driver, not a cost center What to do when leadership does not understand localization, your team gets cut, or your org structure shifts overnight What it actually takes to break through to VP and GM in a function that rarely gets that recognition