Gather, learn, grow: Ask me anything about communities of practice

In this super fun and insightful AMA, hosted by Tristan Lombard, Beth Marshall and Alex Reynolds, both esteemed quality engineers at Lloyds Banking Group, shared insights into their extensive experience and passion for community building within the testing industry. 

Beth, with fifteen years in testing and a recent role at Lloyds as Senior Quality Engineer, highlighted her dedication to software testing, API testing, and supporting women in tech. 

Alex, renowned for leading Lloyds' Quality Engineering community with over six hundred members and championing mindfulness practices, emphasised the transformative power of communities in fostering psychological safety and knowledge sharing. 

Their discussion highlighted the importance of starting small and nurturing community engagement incrementally, rather than pursuing overly ambitious initiatives. They stressed the qualitative and quantitative metrics essential for measuring community ROI, emphasising the impact on trust-building and cross-functional collaboration within large organizations. Reflecting on their own career journeys, they shared valuable lessons on embracing experimentation, learning from mistakes, and adapting strategies to continually enhance community dynamics.