How to transition from Quality Engineer to Quality Coach: 3 coaching skills
17th October 2025
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Kulas Angeles
Director, Software Quality Engineering

Talk Description
Discover how transitioning from quality engineering to quality coaching can elevate how teams collaborate and learn. This talk explores what it means to be a quality coach, how the role differs from (and complements) that of a tester or quality engineer, and how three essential coaching skills can strengthen communication and empathy across teams.
You’ll learn how deep listening, empathy, and effective questioning can help you guide others, navigate challenging situations, and foster a culture of quality in your organisation.
By the end of this session, you'll be able to:
- Describe what a quality coach does and how the role supports teams.
- Compare the responsibilities and mindset of a tester, quality engineer, and quality coach.
- Apply three coaching skills namely deep listening, effective questioning, and empathy to improve conversations and collaboration.
Kulas, or Mark Nicholas, is a Director, Software Quality Engineering with Sun Life Financial. A seasoned engineering leader with 17+ years of experience in IT mostly in quality engineering and DevOps.
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