Perseverance pays dividends
13 Oct 2026
In this moment:
Lisa Crispin
Edward Basham
Ady Stokes
Giorgos Siamantas
Jorunn Mjøs
Tehreem Fatima
Richard Adams
Meg Sokolowska
Ritesh P
Nadja Schulz
Demi Van Malcot
Heleen Van Grootven
Assia Moujdi
Thirty or so minutes before I took this photo I was scrambling to quickly research a route for our intrepid walking tourers.
I knew the basics of Brighton having been there several times for TestBash and MoTaCon, yet I’m not a local.
Rosie fell sick and Diana had to start the long journey home. So it was down to me to represent Team MoT. My mind was thinking about my daughter, sick with fever at home with her Mum. I needed to get back home ASAP but she was ok and there was actually no rush.
I had a job to do. I had to step up and lead those who had made a real effort to join their fellow MoTaconistas the day after MoTaCon.
I was utterly broken, exhausted from an extremely busy festival week. My social battery was at absolute zero. How the heck was I going to socialise and take lead?
I reminded myself how cool it is I get to do this as part of my day job, it's a real privilege. I had a little word with myself:
“Just go for it and see what happens. You’re a pretty good exploratory tester, so just apply those principles with your community principles and ensure everyone feels welcome and cared for.”
I wrote a charter as I was walking to meet everyone and decided to read it out before we set off.
Explore the Brighton area
With good friends
To discover helpful information, good times and ducks
I quickly recruited Nadja as my co-pilot, set expectations with everyone about taking stops and ensuring everyone had a say in the things they’d like to see.
On occasion I kept forgetting to walk at the front to guide everyone, but it was ok. Folks just found their way as we called out instructions from the middle and back of the crowd.
This is the thing. It’s very easy to worry about what might go wrong picking up a something we're unfamiliar with. And also easy to think we won't have a good experience, or that we might let someone down. Part of me didn’t want to show up because of all this, combined with low energy levels.
I'm so glad I showed up. While my energy was still low at the end, I felt rejuvenated by everyone who showed up. It was lovely to step back and see folks chatting away, getting to know other, having a laugh and all that. Good times had by good humans. We even joked about a TWiQIP.
I think it went well. We should do a walking tour for 2027 and I’d happily be your guide. Although part of me thinks someone else should be the official guide, so they can have all the fun.
Perseverance pays dividends. 😌
Perseverance pays dividends. 😌
Simon Tomes
Community Lead at MoTaverse
he/him
Hello, I'm Simon. Since 2003 I've had various roles in testing, tech leadership and coaching. I believe in the power of collaboration, creativity and community. 🎓 MoT-STEC qualified. I get real joy working with and supporting our wonderful MoTaverse community.
“Thanks for making me feel so confident about myself.” | “I'm so grateful for all you do in the MoTaverse community, I learn so much as a result!” | “A simple chat with Simon in person absolutely changed everything.” | “Simon is one of the best people that I've ever met to have conversations with. He's so grounded in his way of thinking and articulates his thoughts so well and his feelings and his knowledge about community and everything.”
Open To
Teach
Speak
Mentor
Podcasting
Review Conference Proposals
Write
CV Reviews
Meet at MoTaCon 2027
Nadja Schulz
It was an honour to be your copilot 🫡
Ady Stokes
You and Nadja did a great job
Sign in
to comment
Getting tests that catch real failures is the hard part. Watch the recording now on demand!
Explore MoT
Learn how to structure and organize test management data as an AI-ready foundation that gives AI systems richer context for testing insights and workflows.
Boost your career in software testing with the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate. Learn essential skills, from basic testing techniques to advanced risk analysis, crafted by industry experts.
Debrief the week in Quality via a community radio show hosted by Simon Tomes and members of the community
