Stu Day: Building a quality brand

In this episode of Leading with Quality, Rosie Sherry speaks with Stu Day, a senior leader in the quality and engineering space, about the value of building a quality brand and culture within organisations.

Stu reflects on nearly three decades in software testing and leadership, from his early days at OAG and EasyJet to shaping culture and strategy at Dunelm and Capital One, and now stepping into a new role at Ten10. Together, Rosie and Stu explore how ideas of quality, leadership, and identity have evolved, moving from test scripts and silos to collaboration, care, and community.

They discuss why brand and storytelling are powerful tools for change, how language and labels can hold teams back, and why creating shared ownership of quality starts with people, not processes. Stu also shares lessons from building the “This is Quality” brand at Capital One, highlighting the importance of vulnerability, inclusion, and connection in leading with quality.

You’ll hear about:

• How Stu’s perspective on quality has evolved from testing to leadership
• Building internal brands and shared narratives like This is Quality
• Why vulnerability, trust, and collaboration are at the heart of modern leadership
• Creating cross-functional training that unites teams around quality
• The role of community and identity in shaping quality culture

If you’re interested in how leaders can turn quality into a shared, lived experience rather than a function, this episode offers a grounded and human take on building a brand that people truly believe in.