Exploring Quality Coaching - The Testing Planet News - Episode 10

Talk Description

This episode is hosted by Simon Tomes, Community Lead at Ministry of Testing, alongside the amazing community members Kulas Angeles, Emna Ayadi and Demi Van Malcot. In Episode 10 of The Testing Planet News, the focus is on exploring quality coaching within the context of software testing.

The discussion explored the evolving role of quality coaches, their challenges and the varying perspectives on their responsibilities within teams. A key theme was the difficulty quality coaches encounter in proving their value, as many organisations prioritise automation and traditional testing roles over coaching. 

They shared insights on how quality coaching is often misunderstood, with its impact being harder to quantify compared to hands-on testing or direct automation contributions. The conversation also highlighted how company structures and team dynamics influence the effectiveness of coaching, with some organisations fully embracing it while others struggle to see its benefits.

Another major point of discussion was whether quality coaches should engage in hands-on testing. While some argued that coaching should remain a guiding and strategic role, others emphasised the importance of staying technically engaged to lead by example. 

This session also revealed that the level of hands-on involvement depends on factors such as team size, organisational expectations and the coach’s specific focus. The session concluded with encouragement for ongoing discussions within the community, inviting further engagement through blog posts, talks and forum discussions.

By the end of this session, you'll be able to:

Simon Tomes

Community Lead at Ministry of Testing

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.

Emna Ayadi

Quality Coach

Emna is a passionate tester from Tunisia who began her IT career in 2015. She has had the opportunity to work on multinational projects, combining testing with quality coaching roles. Currently, she works at Sogeti France. Emna is also an international speaker and workshop facilitator, having presented at several testing and agile conferences. Explore Emna's adventures further by following her hashtag #ExploreWithEmna on LinkedIn.

Kulas Angeles

Director, Software Quality Engineering

He/His/Him

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.

Demi Van Malcot

Test engineer

she/her

Before I was a software tester, I was a baker. I switched to find a job were I can keep learning and growing. Every day talking with other testers, diving into new skills, giving presentations, ...