Sayana Maraktaeva
Project Manager
Sayana is a second-year graduate student in the Translation and Localization Management program at MIIS.
Originally from Russia, Sayana has always been passionate about languages and all things translation. Formerly an in-house translator, she now seeks to build a career in the localization of video games and media — fields that have long held her interest.
In her downtime, she enjoys swimming, cross stitching, and ice skating.
As the PM of ROAR, Sayana works to balance the “science” of planning with the “art” of communication, while learning from her colleagues and growing as a leader.
Victoria Shimkus
Podcast Team Manager
Hello! I am Victoria Shimkus and I am on the ROAR Podcast Team for 2025/2026. I am studying TLM at MIIS and plan to graduate in May of 2026.
I had no prior localization experience before starting this program, but enjoy traveling, learning about different cultures, and hearing new languages, so localization piqued my interest.
I love connecting with others and learning from their lives and experiences. One of my favorite ways to connect is through sports, especially soccer! I also love spending time outdoors. I look forward to sharing l10n stories with our ROAR listeners this year.
Leo Dai
Outreach Team Manager
Hello! I’m Leo Dai, a second-year TLM student at MIIS and the outreach person of ROAR for 2025–2026.
Before MIIS, I worked on translation and media projects that sparked my interest in localization—especially how language, technology, and culture interact to make content truly global. I enjoy playing basketball, badminton, and exploring scenic places around the world. Friends describe me as curious, organized, and detail-oriented.
Through ROAR, I hope to share meaningful stories from the localization community and learn from everyone’s unique journeys in this ever-evolving industry.
Bella Yang
Marketing Manager
Hi, I’m Bella Yang, a second-year graduate student in Translation and Localization Management at MIIS.
I have experience in game and media localization, including translating , editing content for platforms, QA testing and so on. I’m familiar with all kinds of project management tools and workflows in localization.
I’m passionate about video games and creative storytelling. Friends describe me as organized, curious, and collaborative. I enjoy exploring new games, watching shows, and discovering music from different cultures.
I look forward to contributing to ROAR events and learning from fellow members. My goal is to deepen my expertise in game localization and help bridge language and cultural gaps in media content.
Peng Chen (Halcyon)
Magazine Manager
Hi! I’m Peng Chen, but you can call me Halcyon. I’m a second-year TLM student at MIIS and the Magazine Manager for ROAR this year. Before coming to MIIS, I studied applied linguistics, and now I focus on translation and Localization Management.
I’m passionate about bridging cultures through languages. I enjoy writing, editing, and designing content that informs and inspires. I’m also a huge fan of literature, soccer (Forza Inter!), and science fiction.
This year, I look forward to working with the amazing ROAR team to spotlight our MIIS TLM community’s voices and creativity. Let’s make something meaningful together!
Shang Li
Post-production Engineer
I’m Shang Li, a second-year TLM student from China, currently serving as a Post-production Engineer at ROAR. I’m a tech-savvy graduate student with experience in localization project management, QA, and multimedia localization using tools like Trados, memoQ, and Phrase TMS.
Creative, organized, and friendly, I’m passionate about languages, games, and cross-cultural storytelling. As a podcast editor, I enjoy bringing stories to life through sound and editing. I look forward to collaborating with the team and creating meaningful, high-quality content that connects people and cultures.
