The Engineering Quality Podcast on Tester HQ

21: The Power of No: Choosing What Matters Most

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Setting boundaries and saying “no” is crucial for aligning with personal values, avoiding burnout, and maintaining quality in engineering and leadership, especially for women in tech facing pressure to overcommit. The episode advocates evaluating tasks against priorities and long-term goals, challenging cultural norms that equate constant work with productivity, and reframing “no” as a tool for sustainable, empowered decision-making.

20: Building Better and Happier Engineering Teams with Ashley Hunsberger

Wed, 20 May 2026 11:18:00 +0000

Developer experience (DX) shapes software quality and team performance through supportive tools, cultural practices, and career evolution from testing to leadership roles, emphasizing agile shifts and holistic testing. Psychological safety, data-driven metrics, and human-centered values are critical for fostering innovation, trust, and alignment with business goals in tech teams.

19: Stop Being Ignored - Leadership Lessons for Testers with Keith Klain

Wed, 06 May 2026 11:23:00 +0000

Keith Klein’s 25-year career traces software testing’s shift from manual tools to strategic risk management, emphasizing collaboration, communication, and aligning testing with business goals. The discussion critiques outdated metrics, advocates for minimalist automation, and underscores the irreplaceable role of human judgment in leadership and high-stakes testing.

18: Not Accessible = Not Ready

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Accessibility and inclusive design must be central to digital development, driven by personal experiences and informed by lived expertise, while overcoming organizational resistance and reliance on automated tools. The discussion underscores ethical, economic, and legal imperatives for embedding accessibility, advocating for human-centered solutions over speculative technologies.

17: Quality Isnt A Testing Problem, Its a Culture Problem

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:23:00 +0000

Janet Gregory outlines strategies for embedding quality through observation, retrospectives, and her QPAM framework, stressing that cultureparticularly communication and collaborationtrumps technical processes. She advocates for shared accountability, decentralized leadership, and addressing systemic issues like unclear requirements to foster inclusive, sustainable quality practices.

16: Busy Isnt Productive: Staying Focused in Tech

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:58:27 +0000

Redefining productivity as intentional focus on meaningful tasks challenges myths around busyness and multitasking, emphasizing alignment with long-term goals and deep work. Practical strategies like time blocking, digital tools, and boundary-setting are highlighted to combat distractions, while critiquing cultural glorification of overwork in favor of purpose-driven, structured efficiency.

15: Quality coaching with Anne-Marie Charrett & Fiona Charles

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:42:58 +0000

Engineering Quality explores redefining quality leadership through culture, collaboration, and systems thinking, emphasizing mentorship, diversity, and inclusive practices in software testing. The episode delves into quality coaching frameworks, challenges of influencing teams without formal authority, and the importance of community, communication, and shared responsibility in fostering sustainable quality improvements.

14: Navigating the Tech Job Market with Ali Feldman

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:14:26 +0000

The tech job market is significantly impacted by AI, with AI-generated resumes becoming a challenge for recruiters to detect. As a result, companies are developing tools to detect AI-generated resumes, and candidates are advised to be cautious about using AI tools unless explicitly permitted.

To stand out in the hiring process, candidates should focus on authenticity, ability to discuss their experience, and being prepared for more video interviews and rigorous vetting processes.

13: Aligning Agile and Quality with Shaquanna Brown

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Agile maturity directly impacts software quality and team dynamics through integrated practices like test-driven development, shared accountability, and early quality involvement. Misconceptions around Agile as a speed-focused shortcut are addressed, emphasizing structured planning, clear definitions of done/ready, and cross-functional collaboration for sustainable outcomes.

12: Holistic Testing with Lisa Crispin

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:50:53 +0000

Lisa Crispin, a pioneer in agile testing, co-founder of the Agile Testing Fellowship, highlights the concept of Holistic Testing, which emphasizes testing throughout the entire software development lifecycle, not limited to the end of development or deployment.

Holistic Testing includes continuous testing, shared responsibility, data collection and monitoring, and integration with agile and DevOps practices, ensuring quality is built in from the beginning, rather than being an afterthought. It encourages a collaborative culture where all team members contribute to high-quality outcomes.