The Digital Executive Podcast Episode 1105: From Dial Tones to On-Demand: How Bryan Forrester is Revolutionizing Language Access with AI
Date: August 28, 2025
Guest: Bryan Forrester, CEO & Co-founder, Boost Lingo
Host: Coruzant Technologies

Episode Overview

This episode explores how Bryan Forrester and Boost Lingo are transforming the landscape of language access through cloud-driven software and innovative AI integration. Forrester shares his entrepreneurial journey, the cultural principles behind Boost Lingo’s explosive growth, and passionately explains why interpreters and AI will work together—rather than compete—as the industry evolves.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Modernizing Language Access: From Landlines to On-Demand Apps

Timestamps: 01:21–03:16

• In 2016, the interpreting industry relied on outdated tech—landlines, menu systems, and manual routing.
• Most platforms were not cloud-native; lacked APIs; and delivered poor user experience.
• Boost Lingo set out to make interpreter access “as easy as requesting a ride.”

  “We saw an opportunity…to transform that process. What once took several minutes, we believed we could reduce that down to several seconds. So at the fingertips, right, just get an interpreter on demand.” (Bryan Forrester, 02:14)

• Their solution was platform-agnostic (mobile, web, landline, onsite) for ultimate flexibility and ease.
• Focus on seamless user experience was core to early success.

2. Building for Hypergrowth: Discipline, Mission, and Bottom-Up Culture

Timestamps: 03:55–07:05

• Boost Lingo’s annual growth of 50%+ and 17,000+ interpreters is attributed to:
  • Maintaining a clear mission and well-defined quarterly objectives—even in pre-revenue days.
  • Avoiding distractions from “enticing opportunities” by staying committed to interpreting (not translation) and their core roadmap.

  “If anything surfaced outside the scope of these goals…the answer had to be no. And we got better at saying no as time went by.” (Bryan Forrester, 06:00)

  • Cultivating a bottoms-up culture: hiring people who challenge and teach leadership, not just follow orders.

  “We hire people because we trust them to do their job. They don’t have to prove it to us.” (Bryan Forrester, 06:49)

  • Tracking employee satisfaction with Employee Net Promoter Scores (eNPS) resulting in high retention and innovation.

3. Thoughtful AI Integration: Expanding, Not Replacing, Interpreter Capacity

Timestamps: 07:48–11:47

• Forrester dispels myths that AI will “replace interpreters.” Instead, AI fills access gaps where no human is available, especially for the 60% of LEP (Limited English Proficiency) individuals lacking interpreters during key interactions.

  “It’s better from our perspective to have AI access than no access.” (Bryan Forrester, 08:38)

• Decision tree model: AI is deployed for low-risk, low-complexity situations; humans for high-risk or highly complex conversations.

  “AI where it fits and human when it counts.” (Bryan Forrester, 11:43)

• AI enhances the interpreter experience (not replaces it): offering transcripts, summaries for medical records, real-time captioning, and language detection in emergencies.
  • Human nuance, sarcasm, emotion are still too complex for current AI.
• Customers appreciate AI as a partner, not a substitute.

4. Future of Language Access: Intelligent Routing, Captioning & Enterprise Workflows

Timestamps: 12:31–16:05

• AI is fundamentally shifting how industries work—it’s part “mentor” and “operating system” for Forrester himself.
• Boost Lingo is embedding AI into call routing to reduce interpreter response time and smartly assign calls.
• Quality Assurance: AI will soon streamline post-call review and retraining by analyzing large volumes of interpreting sessions with speed and efficiency.
• Real-time AI captioning addresses gaps for the hard of hearing, especially elderly who do not use ASL.

  “Imagine how powerful real-time captioning can be…they can at least read what the doctor’s saying in real time.” (Bryan Forrester, 14:35)

• Enterprise expansion: Winners will offer workflow solutions integrated deeply into client processes, not just point solutions like Google Translate.
  • Importance of transcripts, EHR integration, and user experience as competitive moats.
• The landscape is rapidly evolving; adaptability is key. AI is expected to expand GDP and spawn thousands of startups.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On entrepreneur discipline:
  “It’s so easy to get distracted by enticing opportunities…we were really disciplined early on.” (Bryan Forrester, 04:36)

• On building culture:
  “Trust is given, not earned, right? We hire people because we trust them to do their job.” (Bryan Forrester, 06:39)

• On AI’s role:
  “There’s really a language desert and AI can fill those gaps.” (Bryan Forrester, 09:28) “AI can only make this human process, human interpreters, better at this point.” (Host, 11:48)

• On technology’s future:
  “If Boost Lingo doesn’t change rapidly, we won’t continue to grow rapidly.” (Bryan Forrester, 12:57)

• On workflow focus vs. point solutions:
  “It’s a workflow, not a point solution…there’s all of these additional workflow aspects that make the software more sticky and that workspace is extremely important.” (Bryan Forrester, 15:10)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:21] Modernizing interpreter access – removing outdated barriers
• [03:55] Keys to sustainable startup hypergrowth
• [07:48] AI’s role enhancing—not replacing—interpreters
• [12:31] The future: AI’s role in routing, QA, captions, and workflow integration
• [14:35] Real-world impacts for elderly, hard of hearing
• [15:10] Winning with workflow-centric solutions

Summary Takeaways

• Boost Lingo’s success is rooted in obsessing over user experience, focus, and a principle-driven culture.
• AI is a powerful enabler, expanding access and enhancing interpreter services without threatening the professional workforce.
• The future of language access will be won by those who deliver deeply integrated, workflow-focused solutions and embrace AI-driven change.

This episode—rich in actionable insights and insider perspective—demonstrates that humanity and technology can collaborate to break down global language barriers in new and equitable ways.