Fireside Chat with Ajay Balamurugadas

Hello Testers,

A fireside chat is an opportunity for open and honest dialogue. Also, the unique format that allows for gaining insight into the experiences of industry experts, and finding inspiration, by posing candid questions.

We’ve brought "Fireside chat with Ajay Balamurugadas" for all of you!

Date: 3rd December 2024

Time: 09:00 PM - 10:00 PM IST

A special thank & huge shoutout to BrowserStack, Our exclusive sponsor for all community events, and premier sponsor for Conferences.

Anyone can ask questions during the live session. And we also have a Discord & Facebook community where we’ll be collecting questions.

Session Title: Visibility Matters: For You and Your Team’s Success

Success can sometimes look like a paradox when working in Quality. If everything runs smoothly, it’s because you’ve done your job. Yet, the smoother things go, the less visible your contributions become. This creates a challenge: how can you make your impact seen without compromising the very essence of QA—preventing problems before they arise?

Here’s the truth: visibility is not self-promotion; it’s leadership in action. Leaders are those who ensure their work—and the work of their teams—is recognized, understood, and appreciated. It’s not about seeking attention but about owning your responsibility to showcase the value you bring.

True QA leadership requires reframing how you communicate your efforts:

Don’t just say, “I fixed this bug.” Say, “I prevented this issue from affecting 1,000 users.”

Don’t just present test coverage metrics. Explain what those metrics mean for quality, timelines, and customer satisfaction.

Leadership is about solving problems, getting things done, and bringing clarity in chaotic situations. It’s about taking care of people—making their contributions visible, unblocking their tasks, and aligning efforts to business objectives. Leadership involves making tough calls, working effectively with multiple stakeholders, leading from the front, and creating a safe environment where everyone can thrive. By doing so, you're not just elevating your role—you're positioning QA as a strategic partner within the organization.

The path to leadership starts here. It’s about taking responsibility for how you communicate your contributions, how you serve your team, and how you create an environment where quality is both understood and celebrated.

Key Takeaways

1. QA success sometimes means invisibility; how not to get resentful with it.

2. Looking at visibility as a skill in your profession.

3. Learn how small changes to your communication can lead to big impact.

4.Elevate QA from a back-office function to a strategic role within the organization. How to get a place at the product-discussions table.

5. An insight into how to lead with impact.

About Speaker:

Ajay Balamurugadas, Head of Customer Success and Strategy

Ajay Balamurugadas, a graduate of Problem Solving Leadership, BBST, and Rapid Software Testing, is a dedicated learner and hands-on tester. He trains new testers, speaks at conferences, and shares insights via blogs and social media. Starting with desktop applications, he moved to web and mobile testing and co-founded Weekend Testing and Test Maniac, while collaborating with The Test Tribe. His practical books are popular among testers, reflecting his commitment to the Context-Driven Testing community.

Regards,

The Test Tribe Team