Embracing Change: QA Beginnings To Tech Leadership with Yulia Sharabi

Summary

In this episode of Quality Talks, host Stu Day welcomes Yulia Sharabi, a seasoned QA manager, to discuss her journey in the field of Quality Assurance.

Yulia shares her experiences transitioning from manual to automated testing, the challenges of leading teams, and the importance of adapting to change in the tech industry.

The conversation delves into the evolution of QA education, the significance of building trust within teams, and the emotional aspects of implementing change.

Yulia emphasises the need for patience, understanding, and preparation when introducing new processes and tools in a workplace. The episode concludes with Yulia's advice to embrace opportunities and say yes to new challenges.

Takeaways

1. Yulia has over a decade of experience in QA across various industries.
2. She transitioned from manual testing to leading distributed teams in the crypto domain.
3. Education in QA often lacks focus on practical testing methodologies.
4. Adapting to change is crucial in QA roles, especially with evolving technologies.
5. Building trust within teams is essential for successful change management.
6. Understanding the audience is key when introducing new tools or processes.
7. Emotional aspects play a significant role in how teams respond to change.
8. Patience is necessary when implementing new methodologies in teams.
9. Yulia's personal experiences have influenced her approach to QA leadership.
10. Saying yes to opportunities can lead to unexpected and rewarding paths.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:56 Career Journey in QA and Tech

11:19 Education and the Importance of QA

13:36 Transitioning from Individual Contributor to Leadership

19:18 Managing Change and Resistance

25:11 Navigating Leadership Challenges

30:27 The Role of QA in Startups

32:20 Transforming Testing Methodologies

35:01 Navigating Change with Patience

37:10 Understanding Team Dynamics

39:32 Choosing the Right Tools

41:37 Considering Stakeholders in Change

44:16 Building Trust Across Departments

45:51 Preparing for Change

48:39 Challenges and Learning Moments

52:45 Recruitment and Team Building

Links:

Yulia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yulia-sharabi/

Yulia's MoT Profile: https://www.ministryoftesting.com/p/yudit?s_id=19028979

Yulia’s Blog: https://medium.com/@yudit77091