Jane, Alberton
Our Listener – Jane, Alberton
“Finding purpose in words and compassion in action”
In a quiet home office in Alberton, South Africa, Jane’s day often begins before the sun has climbed high enough to warm the rooftops. A cup of tea beside her, headphones on, she listens — not just to voices, but to the layers of emotion behind them. Each pause, each hesitation, each burst of laughter tells a story. For Jane, transcription isn’t just typing words; it’s entering the human experience through sound. “Transcribing takes me into other people’s lives,” she says softly. “And I absolutely love how I’m continually learning new things.”
Jane’s journey with Way With Words began long before she officially joined the team 17 months ago. “I discovered Way With Words about six years ago,” she recalls. “I applied and was accepted, but life had other plans at the time. I kept checking back on the website, waiting for the opportunity to come around again.” When it finally did, she jumped at it and she hasn’t looked back since.
Her connection to transcription is both practical and passionate. “My love of English — and believe it or not, typing — drew me in,” she says with a laugh. But there’s more to it than the mechanics of words. Transcribing, for her, is a window into the depth of human experience. She listens to lives unfolding: people celebrating success, grappling with loss, reflecting on the world. “In every transcription there has to be human influence,” she explains. “We bring understanding and context to the work.”
Over time, she’s heard hundreds of voices. Some of those voices linger. “Many of the transcriptions I’ve worked on have moved me deeply,” she admits. “But the ones that stay with me most are the stories of neurodivergent people — how they navigate the world and find their own rhythm of strength.” She pauses for a moment, her voice lowering. “And then there are the women who’ve survived abuse. I’ve cried many times listening to them. Their courage, their ability to rebuild, to live again — it makes me take stock of my own good fortune.” Through these recordings, Jane feels a quiet kinship with people she’ll never meet. It’s an intimacy built on trust — the trust that human transcribers will not only capture their words but honour their meaning.
When she steps away from her desk, Jane’s life continues to revolve around purpose. A lover of history, politics, and quiet reflection, she finds balance through yoga and meditation. Yet, her greatest act of compassion happens beyond her own walls. She owns and runs Smart Meals Africa, a nonprofit dedicated to feeding those in need. “It literally feeds my soul,” she says with a smile. “The earnings from Way With Words go straight to this cause — because it’s never enough.”
Her mission is simple but profound: to ensure that the elderly and children have nutritious food to sustain them. “The elderly are so often neglected, sometimes even by their own families,” she explains. “And children need proper nutrition, especially protein, to learn effectively. That’s what drives me.”
Jane’s dual worlds (transcription and charity) might seem unrelated, but they’re bound by the same thread: empathy. Both require listening deeply, seeing beyond the surface, and giving attention where it’s most needed. “Helping others and transcribing share something in common,” she reflects. “They both remind me of our shared humanity.”
When asked what makes a great transcriber, Jane doesn’t hesitate. “You need exceptional knowledge of the English language,” she says. “But more importantly, you have to love what you’re doing. It can’t just be a job. Some days are challenging — you’re wading through noise, accents, or technical content — but when you finally deliver a clean, accurate transcript, it’s incredibly satisfying.”
Her respect for her colleagues and the Way With Words team shines through. “The staff here make ‘coming to work’ wonderful,” she says. “They’re professional, but also genuinely friendly. You feel supported — like they have your back.” For Jane, it all comes full circle: from the voices she transcribes, to the lives she nourishes, to the quiet gratitude she feels for being part of something meaningful. In every word she types, there’s a small act of care — and that care extends far beyond her keyboard.
Company Note
The “Our Listeners” series celebrates the individuals behind Way With Words — transcribers, editors, and contractors whose dedication brings accuracy, understanding, and empathy to every project. Each story is a reminder that behind every transcript is a listener who cares.