Engineering Quality

In this episode of Engineering Quality, Veronika, Ale, and Royalee are joined by testing leader and industry veteran Keith Klain to challenge one of the most persistent misconceptions in tech: that quality is owned by testing.

With over 25 years of experience leading global testing organizations, Keith shares a candid and deeply practical perspective on what testing really is—and what it isn’t. The conversation reframes testing as a risk management function, not just bug hunting, and explores how testers can elevate their impact by aligning with business goals and speaking the language of leadership. Together, they unpack what it takes to move from being seen as a bottleneck to becoming a strategic partner in delivering quality software.

We discuss:
Why testing is fundamentally about risk management, not just finding bugs

How testers can communicate value to executives and influence decision-making

The problem with traditional testing metrics and why they fail to drive real outcomes

Practical ways to reframe testing work in terms of business impact

Leadership principles that help testers grow into influential quality leaders

How to break down silos and build alignment across teams

Why understanding incentives (like compensation structures) is key to driving change

The reality behind test automation ROI and why many teams get it wrong

How AI is reshaping testing, and what skills will matter most going forward

The episode also dives into the evolving role of testers in the age of AI, challenging the narrative that testing is becoming obsolete. Instead, Keith argues that strong testing fundamentals—critical thinking, risk analysis, and communication—are more valuable than ever.
If you’ve ever felt that testing is undervalued or misunderstood, this conversation offers a clear path to reframing your role, strengthening your influence, and leading quality from wherever you are.

Book recommendation: Rethinking Expertise by Harry Collins 

Connect with Keith:
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithklain/
🎥 YouTube: @KeithKlain

In this episode of Engineering Quality, Veronika, Ale, and Royalee are joined by accessibility leader and advocate Crystal Preston-Watson to explore why accessibility is not an afterthought but a fundamental part of software quality.

Together, they unpack how accessibility often gets deprioritized in organizations, why it’s frequently treated as a “nice-to-have,” and what it actually takes to embed it into the development lifecycle. The conversation dives into the realities of accessibility testing, the limits of automation, and the importance of involving real users with lived experiences.

We discuss:
Why accessibility is often treated as an afterthought and how to change that

The real balance between automated tools and human-driven accessibility testing

Why hiring and paying people with disabilities is critical for meaningful testing

How accessibility and testing share the same challenges in proving ROI

The role of leadership in making accessibility a priority (top-down vs. grassroots)

Practical ways to start accessibility testing even without specialized tools

The risks companies ignore when they deprioritize accessibility

The episode also explores how teams can measure success in accessibility, avoid regressions, and shift from reactive fixes to proactive practices. Crystal shares both personal and professional insights, highlighting how inclusion, empathy, and real-world usage should shape how we build software.

Connect with Crystal:
🌐 Website: https://crystalprestonwatson.com
💼 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalprestonwatson/ 

Follow us on social:
💼LinkedIn: Engineering Quality
🎥 YouTube: @EngineeringQuality
🌐 Website: https://www.engineeringqualitypodcast.com
Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Engineering Quality, Veronika, Ale, and Royalee are joined by renowned agile testing expert Janet Gregory to explore what it really takes to build a strong quality culture in modern engineering teams.
Together, they unpack the realities of consulting in different organizations, how to assess quality culture, and why testing is often misunderstood as the problem instead of a symptom. The conversation dives into holistic testing, the role of communication, and how small behavior changes can drive big cultural shifts.

We discuss:
Why “fixing testers” is often the wrong approach

How to assess quality culture through observation, questions, and patterns

The impact of silos and “silence” on team effectiveness

What holistic testing really means in practice

How to create shared ownership of quality across teams

The role of leadership in enabling strong quality practices

The episode also explores what testing leadership looks like in today’s world, especially as teams move away from traditional roles toward shared responsibility. From empowering testers to use their voice to helping leaders advocate for quality, this conversation offers practical insights for anyone looking to improve how their team builds and delivers software.

Connect with Janet: 
🌐 Websites: https://janetgregory.ca/ and https://agiletestingfellow.com/ 
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetgregory 
🦋 BlueSky: @janetgregoryca.bsky.social

Follow us on social:
💼LinkedIn: Engineering Quality
🎥 YouTube: @EngineeringQuality
🌐 Website: https://www.engineeringqualitypodcast.com
Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Engineering Quality, Veronika, Ale, and Royalee explore what productivity really means in engineering and why being busy doesn’t always mean being effective.
Together, they unpack the myths around multitasking, discuss the impact of constant context switching, and share practical strategies for protecting focus in a world full of meetings, notifications, and competing priorities. The conversation dives into personal productivity systems, from calendar blocking and weekly planning to time audits and task management tools.
We discuss:
Why productivity is about doing the right work, not just more work

How context switching and multitasking reduce real output

Time-blocking and protecting deep focus time

Practical tools for managing tasks, calendars, and priorities

Setting boundaries and learning to pause before saying yes

The episode also explores how productivity connects to clarity of goals, team alignment, and organizational culture. From personal systems that reduce cognitive load to leadership practices that enable focus, the discussion offers practical insights for engineers, testers, and leaders trying to stay effective without burning out.
Follow us on social:
💼LinkedIn: Engineering Quality
🎥 YouTube: @EngineeringQuality
🌐 Website: https://www.engineeringqualitypodcast.com
Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Engineering Quality, we’re joined by two influential voices in the quality community: Anne-Marie Charrett, author of The Quality Coach’s Handbook, and Fiona Charles, founder of Quality Intelligence.
Anne-Marie shares insights from her experience as a quality coach, explaining how the role differs from traditional testing and why quality is ultimately a leadership responsibility.
Fiona dives into the realities of influencing change, facilitating workshops, and navigating resistance in organizations of all sizes.
We discuss:
The difference between a tester and a quality coach

How to influence without authority

Why roadmaps alone don’t drive transformation

The importance of allies, networks, and facilitation

Balancing impact with visibility in large organizations

The conversation also touches on career growth, community, the evolution of quality roles, and the human side of transformation. Whether you’re working in a startup or a large enterprise, this episode offers practical insights for anyone expected to lead quality with title or without.

Connect with our guests:
Anne-Marie Charrett: https://www.annemariecharrett.com/ Fiona Charles: @fionaccharles.bsky.social‬

Follow us on social:
💼LinkedIn: Engineering Quality
🎥 YouTube: @EngineeringQuality
🌐 Website: https://www.engineeringqualitypodcast.com
Email: [email protected]