Q: How did you choose your business name?
A: Initially, Transmed started in the field of medical transcription in both French and English. Therefore, the name TRANS (for transcription) and MED (for medical) was entirely appropriate. We also needed a bilingual name that could be said in both French and English; and that’s where the idea of TRANSMED came into play!
Q: How would you describe your business?
A: Today, Transmed employs nearly 70 people (99% women) and about 20 freelancers, all working remotely, mainly in New Brunswick and Quebec, with the exception of three employees at head office.
Since its inception, Transmed has been providing medical transcription services to many clients, mainly in Quebec. They are mostly hospitals, such as Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé and many other health care facilities and medical clinics.
Since 2008, Transmed has also offered translation services from English to French and from French to English in a number of fields, such as healthcare, tourism, agriculture, and administration. The majority of clients in this sector are from New Brunswick (New Brunswick Translation Bureau, Dialogue NB, CBDC, ACOA, AFMNB). However, about 20% of our volume comes from other provinces (Government of Yukon, Dynacare in Ontario, Mount Saint Vincent University in Nova Scotia and many more).
Q: In what markets do you currently operate?
A: We have chosen to focus our efforts in the province of Quebec (healthcare facilities and medical clinics) for all medical transcription aspects and in New Brunswick for the translation sector.
Q: What markets would you like to penetrate in the short-term?
A: For the translation sector, we want to focus mainly on New Brunswick businesses and organizations, as bilingualism is an important asset for our province's business development and economic growth. As for medical transcription, the target market is still the province of Quebec, where the needs are considerable and ever-growing.
Q: How would you describe your greatest achievements and successes?
A:
- Still being here after more than 23 years!
- Building a great deal of credibility in the community.
- Creating interesting jobs, mainly for women.
- Receiving the Business of the Year Award in 2013 from CÉNB.
- Winning the Services Award at the RDÉE Canada Small Business Award Gala in 2016. This is a National award to applaud small to medium-sized businesses serving Francophone and Acadian communities.
Q: Describe the biggest challenges you have encountered or continue to face as women entrepreneurs?
A: Honestly, the same challenges that men face: technological change, the search for funding, profitability and the growth of the company.
As women, we have made a choice to become entrepreneurs - we know our field of activity, we believe in it and we evolve over time.
Q: What advice would you offer to women starting a business?
A: Trust in yourself, surround yourself with experts and take action. In fact, we would give the same advice to a man who wants to start a business!