Q. Why are some people treated as 'mere interpreters' despite being fluent in English, while others reign as 'decision-makers' even with broken English? What is the difference?

There is an 'inconvenient truth' that exists in foreign-owned companies and global organizations.

There are people who speak English with native-level fluency and brilliantly facilitate meetings, yet behind the scenes, they are treated as nothing more than 'convenient interpreters.' On the other hand, there are those with broken pronunciation and questionable grammar who confidently reign as 'decision-makers' in critical situations, securing high compensation and power.

Where does this cruel disparity come from? In short, it is not a difference in language ability. It is the 'presence of expertise' and 'how one allows that expertise to permeate.'

1. The fatal illusion that 'English proficiency equals one's value'

In foreign-owned workplaces, there is an abundance of people who possess elite resumes from overseas universities but, in reality, never rise above the level of 'interpreters and translators.'