I am speaking at TestFlix!

I am speaking at TestFlix, 2023 – World’sΒ BiggestΒ Virtual Software Testing Conference with 50+ other global speakers, 15+ themes and 8,000 + Global registrations!

The event is slated to take place virtually on 23 and 24 September 2023, which will be 2 days filled with learning, fun, and meeting new people worldwide!

Register now to hear me talk at TestFlix.

My Talk is titled “Keep The Wheels of Continuous Testing in Motion”

The event is Free to attend. Register now atΒ bit.ly/testflix

My experience speaking at World Test Engineering Summit (in-person, Bangalore)

It has been a while since I have made it to an in-person event. So, this one was extra special.

Though, a very busy week (or perhaps month πŸ˜› ) left little time to prepare for my talk, I was excited for the day and to present in person, network and meet people at the conference. And the day matched my expectations!

It was really fun presenting to such an engaged crowd and I was amazed at the response and feedback I received during and after the session! There were some great discussions, very keen participants sharing their own stories & experiences and many fantastic comments by the delegates.

My Topic was – “Keep the Wheels of Continuous Testing in Motion”

Here are the details of the event and my session

The event was also a great platform to meet people and teams from esteemed organisations. I spent time chatting with very talented people and made some great connections.

I also took this opportunity to dust off my Sketch notes pad πŸ™‚ I made sketchnotes for some interesting sessions of the day.

I thank 1point21GWS team for having me as a part of this esteemed speaker panel.

I am always grateful for opportunities like this and always look forward to more such days!

Happy Testing!

Nishi

I am speaking at ‘The World Test Engineering Summit’, Bangalore

I am glad to announce that I will be speaking at the 7th World Test Engineering Summit happening in Bangalore this month! And, this will be my first in-person conference since 2020, so I am even more excited for it!

The event will deliver in-depth content targeted at architects, developers, testers, integrators and managers by offering lectures and technical session to share expertise on the latest technologies, trends, tips and techniques. It is a great opportunity to present, learn, and challenge modern testing technologies and strategies!

This conference is split into two days with the first day being focused on Quality Assurance, Microservices and Serverless while Day 2 will focus on Agile Testing, Test Automation and Technology.

Here are the details of the conference and the schedule.

Check out the topic of my talk and the details on 23rd June.

Topic : Keep the Wheels of Continuous Testing in Motion

Description : Continuous testing is the way toward continuous delivery. Software teams must strive for continuous improvement of their continuous testing strategy. The key there is to embrace the continuity.The constant pressure of β€˜speed to market’ needs testing to evolve and adapt. The factors that can help to keep the wheel of continuous testing in motion are both external and internal. Testers look outwards for priorities, collaboration and transparency; while they look inwards to reimagine processes, templatize lightweight documentation and recreate their own way of life in the testing world! Let us discuss ways we can plan, strategise and conduct software testing that befits continuous software delivery.

Finding Confidence and Mentoring: Speaking Skills for Women in Tech

<This is a guest post by Lena Heller>

Women today have made significant progress in the technology sector by removing barriers and dispelling preconceptions. Nevertheless, despite advancements, women in technology continue to confront particular difficulties when it comes to speaking and presenting. This piece will examine these difficulties and provide guidance on how women in technology may receive more recognition by honing their presentation skills, gaining confidence, and finding mentoring.

Mentoring

A major issue is the dearth of mentoring for women in technology. Women are 24% less likely than males to have a sponsor, and they are also less likely to get guidance from top executives, according to data from LeanIn.org. When it comes to developing their public speaking and presenting abilities, women in technology may find this lack of mentoring to be particularly challenging.

It may be quite beneficial to have a mentor who can offer advice and criticism on presentational techniques. A mentor may offer guidance on how to develop, give suggestions on how to attract an audience, and offer calming techniques. A mentor can also aid in boosting confidence by providing assistance and inspiration.

Community

The value of community is one viewpoint to take into account. Women in technology may create encouraging networks that assist them as they develop their public speaking and presenting abilities.

Joining organizations like Women Who Code, Women in Tech, or Tech Ladies can open doors for networking with other women working in the field, sharing experiences, and exchanging knowledge.

Opportunity

Women m technology might have felt a dearth of opportunities and inclusion in conference lineups and speakers lists. As that improves and events become more and more aware of the need to be inclusive of voices of different genders, races and nationalities, more avenues are opening up to present yourself in the best way possible and bring your voice to the forefront!

Self Confidence

When it comes to speaking and presenting, lack of confidence may be a significant obstacle for women in technology. Women may experience feelings of exclusion or a lack of value for their opinions, which can cause self-doubt and a fear of speaking up. Gaining confidence is essential to getting beyond these obstacles.

Honing Your Skills

There are many ways to hone your speaking and presenting skills as a woman in tech. Here are a few tips useful for anyone looking at speaking or presenting at an event:

Preparation

Preparation is imperative increase confidence. Clarity on the subject matter and target audience may ease nervousness and boost self-assurance. Multiple rehearsals of the presentation might help you find areas that could use improvement and increase your confidence in how to deliver the material.

The viewpoint of the audience should also be taken into account. It’s possible that listeners for presentations by women in tech aren’t used to seeing women in technical jobs. This may result in unintentional biases that affect how the audience sees the presenter.

Practice

Speaking in low-pressure situations is one method to gain confidence. For instance, joining a local Toastmasters club may offer a secure setting to hone public speaking abilities and get feedback in an encouraging setting. Finding chances to speak in front of small groups, such as facilitating team meetings or giving a presentation at a meetup, may also assist with confidence and skill development.

Body Language

The significance of body language should also be taken into account when talking about speaking and presentation abilities for women in technology. The audience’s perception of the presenter and the message being conveyed can be greatly influenced by nonverbal clues. Women could use nonverbal cues like crossing their arms or avoiding eye contact that could be interpreted as meek or deferential, which might take away from their message.

Concentrate on using forceful and confident body language to get over these obstacles.

Stand tall, Make eye contact, and Make open motions.

Power postures, like the “Wonder Woman” with the feet shoulder-width apart and the hands on the hips, may also assist build confidence and exude authority.

Voice Modulation

The verbal delivery should also be considered. According to research, women’s voices are frequently assessed more severely than men’s, and they may face consequences if they speak up or use vocal fry. However, altering one’s voice patterns can be difficult, and women shouldn’t feel under pressure to adhere to societal expectations of speaking.

For instance, studies have shown that women frequently say things like “I think” or “maybe,” which might damage their credibility and authority.

To be heard loudly and confidently, practice projecting your voice.

Concentrate on utilizing your voice to exude excitement and love for their profession.

Speaking at a steady speed and utilizing different tones and inflections to emphasize points are some examples of how to do this.

Establish Credibility

When selecting a topic to speak, concentrate on establishing credibility via your competence and knowledge in that area.

Building trust and overcoming prejudices can be facilitated by meticulous planning and showing a solid mastery of the subject.

Women can also use their distinctive perspectives to contribute fresh viewpoints and methods.

Storytelling

Utilize narrative to enhance the impact of your presentations.

The use of stories may help make complex technical ideas more relevant, vivid, and emotionally engaging for the audience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, women in IT suffer particular difficulties when it comes to confidence, prejudice, and speaking and presenting skills. By concentrating on gaining confidence, utilizing distinctive perspectives, effectively using storytelling and body language, and finding allies and advocates, women can overcome these obstacles and succeed in public speaking. The industry can gain from the variety of viewpoints and knowledge that women in tech bring to the table by promoting and supporting them.

Finally, it’s critical to understand that speaking and presenting abilities are skills that may be improved in time with practice, support and mentorship. Early failures shouldn’t deter you! Concentrate on constant development and you will get there!

Good luck!

<Image Credits – Unsplash.com>

This is a guest post by Lena Heller – Reach her at lenaaaheller@gmail.com

I am speaking at WomenTech Global Conference 2023

I am super excited to announce that I will be speaking at my Second WomenTech NetworkGlobal Conference – The last one was in 2021 and now in May this year!
I am grateful for this amazing opportunity and looking forward to the grand event!

Here are the details of my session:

Session: Testing for Speed to Market

The software world is constantly under pressure of β€˜speed to market’, which impacts each stage of software development. Software testing is not left untouched by this constant hustle and hence has every reason to evolve and adapt! Testers look outwards for priorities, collaboration and transparency; while they look inwards to reimagine processes, templatise lightweight documentation and recreate their own way of life in the testing world! Let us discuss ways we can plan, strategise and conduct software testing that befits this fast pace of software delivery and upholds the quality standards the market demands.

Key Takeaways

  • Testing under pressure of β€˜speed to market’
  • Adapting software test planning and strategy to the fast pace of software delivery
  • Relooking at test prioritization
  • Optimizing test processes and creating lightweight documentation
  • The role of cross-functional communication & collaboration in agile software delivery

Register for the event here

See you there,

Cheers!

My experience as a Panel speaker @LeadDev webinar

I was invited by @LeadDev organisation to be a part of a webinar where we had a panel discussion on “Building a better testing culture“. I was elated to be a part of this great group pf panelists alongside Thayse Onofrio from Thoughtworks and Marcus Merrell from Saucelabs. We had a spirited and interesting discussion and shared some meaningful ideas on the topic. I would also like to thank our host Amanda Sopkin for her really on-the-nail questions and for directing the conversation, and our organiser Olivia Christian for inviting me and for her support throughout the event!

The webinar panel was live, lasted for 45 minutes and then we had some time for Q&A. There were some great questions and discussions over the LeadDev slack channel as well.

Here is a bit more insight into the event-

The world of software testing is changing under the pressure of β€˜speed to market’. The pressure to quickly get products to market means we are starting to see a significant shift towards automated tests during development. This will likely cause socio-technical complexities for orgs and teams currently involved in testing.

In order to be successful through these changes, orgs will need to have a clear strategy and processes in place that will ensure testing is a vital part of the delivery process. In this new age of testing, how can engineering leaders prevent pitfalls such as friction between teams, a culture of blame, and outdated processes?

In this panel, we examined how shift affects traditional testing set-ups, covering what a healthy testing culture looks like and how to avoid the anti-patterns that lead to uncommunicative teams and project bottlenecks. We explored how engineering teams can best work together and how to encourage a shared vision of quality and the importance of efficient and effective tests.

Key takeaways

  • Define clear roles and responsibilities for quality and testing in your org 
  • Encourage QA to be seen as necessary, rather than inhibiting release times 
  • Understand which tests to automate, and which to not

About LeadDev

LeadDev is a community of software engineering leaders that come together to learn and get inspired on all things team, tech, process, and personal development.Β 

LeadDev has become an essential destination for anyone in tech and engineering who wants to scale themselves and create impact.Β They provide a range of content that includes articles, thematic content series, video talks and panel discussions, written and delivered by the best voices in engineering.You can register a free LeadDev.com account to gain access to our free engineering leadership content, free online events and our weekly email newsletter.Β 

I am Speaking @ LeadDev Webinar Panel – Dec 14th

I am super glad to announce that I have been invited by the LeadDev team as a Panel speaker in the upcoming Webinar on “Building a better Testing culture”

The webinar will be held on 14th December at 10.15 PM IST. Details for registration can be found here https://leaddev.com/events/building-better-testing-culture

I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing group of panelists and chat about building amazing teams and a great team culture in this new age of testing. We will be covering what a healthy testing culture looks like and how to avoid the anti-patterns that lead to uncommunicative teams and project bottlenecks!

To top it all, this is a free event!! So, you can register a free LeadDev.com account to secure your place. Not only this, your account will give you access to our free engineering leadership content, free online events and our weekly email newsletter.Β 

Register here now to attend this awesome event and become a part of this amazing LeadDev Community!

See you there!

Back to work feelings…

I have been away for a while, and for the best reason ever!

The last month has been just me getting back to work, finding a rhythm raising my little humans along with working from home, navigating the changed professional environment and catching up on loads of work!

The days are filled with building routines, meal times and naps, work hours and playtime evenings, the nights are filled with meetings & calls with the US team and then struggling to wake for the midnight cries. There is a constant fight with the eternal mom guilt and lack of sleep but then there is a drive to do more each day.

There are days where I get a lot done, have meaningful conversations and make work happen, but miss snuggling the babies to bed. But there are days when they need me more and I have to hold, nurse and comfort along with managing work deadlines.

Yes, it is challenging. And Yes, I am enjoying every bit of it! The things life teaches us trickle down into our work as well – things like patience, perseverance, discipline, time management and so much more! Every day is a blessing and I am excited, engaged and ever so energised with this transition.

The aim now is to get back to my blog and get back into writing, speaking and all the community things that I love!

So, yes! I am back with a bang! And ready for a lot more in 2023 πŸ™‚

Cheers!

Where have I been?

Yes, it has been silent here for a few months now. So, here is a quick update on where I have been all this while!

I have been busy delivering the biggest project of my life πŸ™‚ My hubby Rajesh and I are glad to announce the arrival of our twins Amay (boy) and Arya (girl). I am currently on my maternity leave and taking the time to recover as well as tend to my tiny humans who stake the claim to the entirety of my days at the moment πŸ™‚ I am trying to soak up every moment of this glorious time! I will get back to work in a couple of months. So, conference speaking is on the back-burner for now and so is blogging.

Meanwhile, I am looking forward to collaborating with guest authors for some interesting posts up here. I have had some request emails and am currently reviewing those. If you have something in mind you would like to write about, do reach out to me here or on Linkedin.

I am speaking at DevOpsCon Singapore – Nov 2021

I am super excited to announce that the DevOpsCon Singapore conference is finally here and I am elated to be a part of the Speaker lineup!

After cancellations and rescheduling in 2020 due to the pandemic, this grand event is finally happening now from 22 to 25 Nov 2021 in an online edition.

My talk that was slated to be part of the 2020 edition remains the same topic which I have worked to enhance this year. Here are a few details of the session –

Title – The What, When and How of Test Automation

Description

Agile means pace and agile means change. With frequent time-boxed releases and flexible requirements, test automation faces numerous challenges. Haven’t we all asked what to automate and how to go about the daily tasks with the automation cloud looming over our heads? Here, we’ll discuss answers to some of these questions and try to outline a number of approaches that agile teams can take in their selection of what to automate, how to go about their automation, whom to involve, and when to schedule these tasks so that the releases are debt-free and of the best quality. 

  • What to automate: regression averse approach, selective approach, sanity automation, max automation approach
  • ο»ΏWhen to automate: sprint n-1 approach, continuous automation
  • How to automate – all-hands approach, shared automation expert, code-averse tool 

Let us have a look at the integration of these possibilities, the possible combinations, and what may or may not work.

My session will be held live on Monday, November 22 2021 17:00 – 17:45 SGT

To check out my speaker and session details, click here

For the detailed program and agenda of the conference, see this page

To Register for the event and related details, click here

Hope to see you there! πŸ™‚