Founded in Lyon · 2021
The agency that speaks
your language.
JANUS is a Lyon-based language and intercultural agency founded by Agata Mich — quadrilingual (French, Polish, English, Russian), with an international career in finance in Paris and Switzerland. Financial and international experience in service of business communication.
2021
JANUS founded
2016
Language training
6
Languages
Network
Multilingual professionals
Our story
Experience shaped
by international negotiations.
I had the opportunity to work in very different environments — institutional, financial, entrepreneurial — in France, Poland and Switzerland, always in international and multicultural contexts. Regular contact with counterparts from different cultures and languages taught me that communication is often the real challenge behind projects.
Before founding JANUS, I took part in international negotiations that put me right at the heart of the exchanges between the parties. During the acquisition of a Polish company by a French buyer, I spent four months alongside the executive: preparing the negotiations in English, supporting them in Poland, interpreting during the talks and facilitating intercultural exchanges. In Switzerland, I was part of the team working on a project for the acquisition of a hotel by a Russian buyer, as a financial adviser specialising in credit. Two very different settings, one constant: understanding what each party means, not just what it says.
This observation first led me to language training in 2016, then to create JANUS in 2021 — to meet a concrete need: companies going international need support that goes beyond simple translation or standard language lessons. Since then, JANUS has been preparing executives for their international assignments and exchanges, and supporting them on site when needed.
We chose the name JANUS — the Roman god with two faces, guardian of passages — because it embodies exactly what we do: open doors between two worlds, look in both directions.
Founder's career
2002–2007
International finance — Paris
Mergers and acquisitions involving French and Polish companies.
2007–2014
Private wealth management — Switzerland
International private wealth management (Russian-speaking & Israeli clients). Technical rigour, discretion, client relationships.
2014–2016
Family Office — Switzerland
Global multi-jurisdiction private wealth management. Confidentiality and coordination in a multicultural environment.
2016
Language training
First professional activity in language training, before JANUS was created.
2021 — present
Founded JANUS
Executive preparation for international assignments, on-site support for executives, bespoke language training, interpreting, intercultural consulting. MICH is Qualiopi-certified for training activities.
What guides us
Our values, no slogans.
01
Professionals matched to each assignment
Multilingual professionals selected for the language, sector and context of each assignment, with attention to nuance, register and subtext.
02
Culture before grammar
A correct translation can still fail a negotiation. We train clients to understand how their counterparts think, not just what they say. Intercultural knowledge is the core of our work.
03
Confidentiality as commitment
We often work in sensitive contexts — negotiations, audits, restructuring. Confidentiality is part of the framework of every assignment; a non-disclosure agreement can be signed when the project requires it.
04
Clear objectives
Every training programme starts from defined objectives.
05
Responsiveness
We reply promptly, organise interpreters according to availability and adapt programmes as needs evolve.
06
Honesty about our limits
If a need falls outside our expertise, we say so and direct you to the right resource. We prefer to lose a contract than to disappoint.
Let's work together.
Free quote. Your request is handled confidentially from the first contact.