Early Life
Phil Shawe was born in 1969 and attended New York University, where he met Elizabeth Elting. They co-founded TransPerfect in 1992 while attending NYU's Stern School of Business. Shawe holds an MBA in finance and international business from NYU.
Rise to Success
Shawe began his career at Chemical Bank and later at Merrill Lynch. In 1992, Shawe and Elting launched TransPerfect from a dorm room, bootstrapping the company with savings and credit card debt. They recognized the growing need for language services in the global market. Under Shawe's leadership, TransPerfect expanded rapidly, becoming the world's largest privately held language services provider.
Key Business Strategies
Shawe focused on providing high-quality translation services and building a strong company culture. The company has expanded through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Shawe implemented a meritocracy-based culture. He has also been embracing the AI boom through acquisitions and investments. The company generated $1.23 billion in revenue in 2024.
Philanthropy
Shawe is involved in several philanthropic initiatives. He supports over 25 causes through financial contributions and time. He was named to The V Foundation for Cancer Research's Circle of Honor. The company has raised over $250,000 to date for philanthropic causes. Shawe is also active in local politics and is an advocate for judicial reform in Delaware.