From a three-person startup to an Emmy-winning global localization powerhouse, The Kitchen’s 25-year journey has been defined by bold bets and a refusal to stand still. Guided by a “why not” mindset, CEO Ken Lorber has built a company that thrives on innovation, client trust and round-the-clock global collaboration. In this interview with ttvnews, he reflects on the pivotal decisions that shaped The Kitchen’s success, and shares how the company plans to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.
As legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. And while very far from an ice rink, the phrase fits perfectly with Ken Lorber’s motto in life and how he took a once small initiative in the industry of content localization, to one of the leading companies in the field today.
Always willing to be the first to try something and take big risks, Lorber and his team have been pioneers since the beginning, betting on new technologies, models and talented professionals, to stay one step ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving business.
Add that, to their commitment to putting clients first, creating strong relationships built on trust and reliability, and being available to them around the clock through their many offices located in strategic time zones, and it’s no wonder why The Kitchen has been successful for 25 years in the industry.
In the following interview with ttvnews, Lorber takes a look back at the milestones, accomplishments and lessons learned over the past quarter of a century, and shares plans for what’s in store for the company’s next 25 years.
As The Kitchen celebrates its 25th anniversary, what do you see as the key decisions or turning points that have enabled the company to grow from a three-person operation into a global localization leader?
It’s all about taking chances, stepping outside of the box, being the first and always saying “yes”. We’ve built our reputation on good-old-fashioned customer service and have never varied away from that precedent. It’s part of who we are!
Prior to The Kitchen, I had started and operated two of the first video post-production facilities in New York. I understand the meaning of “teamwork”. I understand the need to bring in talented technical and artistic players. I truly have experienced the great expectations of clients. I have lived through the skepticism of the film world, with the introduction of video and ran with it successfully for years before I was involved in localization.
While the language business certainly wasn’t new 25 years ago, it was new to me. It was an easy transition from video post to language customization for me, and for my partner, Deeny Kaplan. We were a part of the industry when video first was introduced, and our goals have always been to remain at the forefront of whatever the next BIG thing may be!
If we wouldn’t have taken the chance in the early years at The Kitchen, we never would have won two Emmys. Our philosophy has always been “why not”. “Why couldn’t we win an Emmy?” I think that is what sets us apart. We never say “no”. We believe that anything truly is possible.
Early in its history, the company gained recognition with two Primetime Emmy Awards for its language software suite. How did that achievement shape The Kitchen’s trajectory and credibility in the industry?
One of our friends, who has many Emmys and accolades to his name, said something on the day we won the Emmys: “Once you are an Emmy Award Winner, you will always be an Emmy Award Winner. It will never leave you”. And honestly it is a recognition that to this day, we hold dear to our heart.
The software system that we created that won the accolades was ahead of its time, as a solution for an end-to-end suite of software tools that included: language translation, dubbing, subtitling, closed captioning and quality control. While the system is now outdated, we’re proud to have introduced this to the industry. We’re equally proud that this is part of The Kitchen’s history. Of course, we’ve since moved on to the latest solutions for the entire language process, but the evaluation of what we were able to introduce, we believe, did play a part in where in the industry is today.
With the rapid evolution of technology in localization, how is The Kitchen adapting its workflows and tools to stay ahead, and what role do you see emerging technologies playing in the future of dubbing and subtitling?
In recent meetings with clients, they’ve all said the same thing, “We will rely on YOU to tell us WHEN a new technology is ready; when we’ll truly benefit from it”. And it all cases, they’ve continued to again the same thing, “we want YOU to continue managing our efforts in whichever direction we go. We rely on your expertise to tell us when and why.”
Our engineering team is always on top of all new innovations that could help us to expand and better our services and capabilities.
The company has expanded internationally with initiatives like The Kitchen EMEA and its Madrid hub. What have been the biggest challenges and opportunities in building a truly global operation?
Building at team that is spread across the globe, in different time zones, all with individual cultures and languages, is not an easy feat. When we say we are open 24/7, we mean it. There is always someone available, and this is so very much appreciated by our clients.
Having team members and a Board that are global, also gives us a better cultural understanding, which is very much a part of the language adaptation process. What may work in one country may not work in another country, and having eyes and ears across the globe gives us a leg up.
Your client roster includes major players like NBCUniversal, Paramount, and BBC. How have client expectations evolved over the years, and how does The Kitchen position itself as a strategic partner rather than just a service provider?
While many of our clients have been with us throughout the past 25 years, I have always believed that making friends first, getting to know each other, growing together and building respect and trust, is part of what makes a successful partnership. We’re not selling cars here, we are selling reliability and commitment, security and quality. If we don’t do well, the client doesn’t do well. That reliability doesn’t get sealed by reading an advertisement. It’s the interpersonal interaction that makes long-term relationships work and grow and flourish.
Looking ahead to the planned Los Angeles expansion and beyond, what is your long-term vision for The Kitchen, and how do you plan to maintain innovation and trust in an increasingly competitive global market?
Some of our team members have just returned from NAB. While we didn’t see a lot of new tools to add to our toolbox at the Vegas show this year, we do know that as we always have done, we will be ready to test, to integrate, and to always introduce possibilities to our team and our clients.
In regard to having a permanent presence in Los Angeles, not only will we have boots on the ground there to meet with clients, we’ll follow the sun in terms of accessibility. We’ll have full operational functions ‘round the clock, from Madrid to Miami to LA.
Our new LA-based partnership will allow us to offer a complete end-to-end solution to our clients, who are looking for a one-purchase order opportunity. This will simplify the studios, the distributors and the networks internal workflows, given the ability to make one call, with one contact and one purchase order, for all their needs.
