Read Good

In 2020, I attended an online conference where I had the pleasure of meeting Erin Loman Jeck, a remarkable speaking coach with whom I developed a strong rapport. I volunteered to assist her in gaining traction for another conference she was hosting. Erin encourages reading inspiring material from the past to maintain motivation and momentum. She specializes in “Using Compelling Communication for Emerging Leaders.” I highly recommend reaching out to her if you are seeking a speaking coach.
Today, I chose to revisit feedback I received five years ago from a new tester during my tenure as a Test Manager. It serves as a powerful reminder of what truly motivates us in the workplace. It is not salary, bonuses, or promotions that sustain our passion, but rather a genuine sense of safety and an encouraging environment that fosters collaboration and happiness. Strive to uplift your team every day, as you are far greater than the biases and politics that may surround you. Work transcends language differences, and overcoming biases together makes the experience rewarding. While life continues beyond any single job or career, integrity, meaningful human connections, and lasting memories give life its true significance. Without these, one is merely ‘employed.’

Hi Jyothi,
Your involvement with me from 2016 is as follows:

• You always communicate promptly and effectively regarding team updates, available trainings, out-of-office plans, and even AZ updates such as medication statuses.

• You provided invaluable support when I joined the testing team as a fresher. Even years into my career, I can proudly say my best mentor was my first Test Manager.

• You assisted me greatly with goal setting.

• After you introduced me to Trello, I had a wonderful experience using it to manage and prioritize tasks effectively.

• Your initiative in assigning Points of Contact (POCs) for various areas (documentation, appreciation, mentoring, IDP, goal setting, ALS Wall of Honour, ALS Celebrations, trainings, newsletter, chatter champ) helped me stay active and visible in the team as a POC for several areas.

• The series of theoretical and practical sessions on exploratory testing (ET) opened my eyes to what ET is and how to implement it effectively.

• Your strong involvement in introducing ET to the AZ Testing team was outstanding.

• You introduced the Mind Map concept and the XMind tool to ALS SQT.

• You guided me in taking courses within Learning & Development.

• You regularly shared helpful URL links for both technical and motivational learning.

• You reminded the team consistently to fill timesheets promptly, ensuring no one missed proper logging.

• You conducted regular formal and informal meetings to understand and address my concerns by liaising with relevant stakeholders.

• You consistently prioritized the happiness of the team.

• Your mantra of “Ask for” and “Try” inspired me to be confident in many situations.

• I appreciate your commitment to recognizing and appreciating good work, motivating the team to succeed further.

• You introduced me to pair testing.

• Your creation of Minutes of Meeting (MOM) pages for team meetings helped track progress effectively.

• You encouraged my active participation on Slack and Chatter.

• You supported me in the CA Strategy, helping me settle into the EUGG team.

• You provided valuable knowledge on bug logging approaches such as DISSCOH heuristics.

• You taught me how not to log bugs, which prompted me to review and improve my earlier work.

• The Weekly Status Report (WSR) process helped me reflect on my weekly accomplishments and plan ahead.

• Your initiation of Testing Challenges remains the biggest initiative, which I eagerly anticipate continuing.

• You took great care in sending freshers to conferences, exposing them to the broader testing community, such as the STeP-IN Summit 2017.

There are many more, but these stood out as I began drafting this message. I look forward to your continued guidance and support in shaping my career.
Thank you.