SHIFT Happens Podcast by Romanian Testing Conference

SHIFT Happens Podcast by Romanian Testing Conference

"SHIFT Happens" is a podcast that explores the power of change and transformation in our lives, particularly in the areas of technology and career. Through interviews with thought leaders, experts, and everyday people, we dive deep into the experiences and insights that drive personal and professional growth. Join us as we explore the unexpected ways in which shift happens, and discover how you can embrace change and leverage technology to create positive transformation in your career and life. Our host is Alex Mocioi, tech trainer and entrepreneur in the IT sector.

  1. Olimpiu Pop: “Data is the new fuel... and without data, nothing works!”

    22/04/2025

    Olimpiu Pop: “Data is the new fuel... and without data, nothing works!”

    Artificial Intelligence has been around for decades, but the recent surge in generative AItools has accelerated its presence across industries. While AI is evolving rapidly, the human element remains critical—arguably more essential now than ever before. In software development, adopting new technologies means rethinking how we build. The software development lifecycle (SDLC) itself may need to evolve to accommodatethe growing ecosystem of AI-driven tools. In the latest episode of the Shift Happens Podcast, we explored how AI can enhance theway we design, build, and deliver software. Our guest, Olimpiu Pop, brings over 20 years of experience in the software industry. Today, hefinds himself in a pivotal phase - returning to a mindset of exploration and innovation, with a strong focus on the real-world applications of AI. For Olimpiu, AI isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a fundamental shift impacting every stage of the SDLC. “AI is not new—whether we want to believe it or not. Generative AI is just another piece of thebroader AI puzzle. It’s already embedded in our lives. I’ll probably get a couple of AI-generated suggestions on my phone before I leave this room,” he says. Discussing the impact of AI in development, Olimpiu points out that while AI won’t replaceengineers, it will certainly expand the developer’s toolkit: “There’s no shortageof tech talent, and no single tool will do the job for us. But AI adds new capabilities—perhaps more powerful than what we’ve used before. At the end of the day, it’s about building tools that help us work better.” He emphasizes a pragmatic approach to generative AI. While it’s not yet production-ready for mission-critical systems, it can still be leveraged effectively: “Generative AI is a general-purpose technology. Don’t expect it to replace your productionarchitecture today—but do explore what works for you. Stay curious, experiment, and adapt.” The episode is hosted by Alex Mocioi, a seasoned software engineer with 20 years ofhands-on experience and a decade of training tech professionals. Shift Happens is proudly supported this season by Mindera Romania, a trusted name in software development.

    40 min
  2. Ashley Hunsberger: “Sometimes is good to test in our worst days”

    09/04/2025

    Ashley Hunsberger: “Sometimes is good to test in our worst days”

    Humans progress by working together. One of the goals of Shift Happens Podcast Season 2 is to help professionals in technology identify and develop the human skills they need in order to become better professionals.  In our 10th episode we discuss with Ashley Hunsberger about how teams and organizations can be empowered through communication or collaborationskills.  Our guest, Ashley Hunsberger, has decades of testing experience that has evolved into her current focus on enabling engineers to have theenvironment and support they need to thrive. Her interests have led her to a Master’sdegree in Applied Industrial and Organizational Psychology, where she loves to continue to learn about the human experience at work and how to improve it.   Ashley highlights that, “When we build that trust, like in interpersonal relationships, it leads to psychological safety. And hopefully,as you create those safe spaces for teams, they become more and more comfortable.”  When discussing difficult workplace conversations and how to give constructive feedback, Ashley emphasizes that “Feedback is a gift! People also need to be ready for it. But sometimes, as a leader, you have to step inwhether they are ready or not. I always like to approach it with kindness”.  Her secret ingredient? A leader should coach people on what they want to improve, rather than tell them how to improve. The goal is to guide them toward the right mindset.   Our host, Alex Mocioi, is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in software engineering and a decade in tech training.    The Shift Happens podcast is supported this season by Mindera Romania, a leader in software development.

    24 min
  3. Mathias Jansson: “Technology can be extremely helpful, but you shouldn't hesitate to acknowledge the risks”

    07/03/2025

    Mathias Jansson: “Technology can be extremely helpful, but you shouldn't hesitate to acknowledge the risks”

    We are all very concerned about being protected in the digital world.  In our episode of Shift Happens Podcast, we will discuss about how to find the right balance for ethical and legal aspects when we are trying to help people, but not get too much in their lives with technology. Our guest, Mathias Jansson, works as a legal counsel at a Swedish government agency. He is currently working in project financing and has a long experience in application of public law, public access to information and secrecy as well as integrity and personal information regulation. Mathias states that if you are developing or selling software, you should have the responsibility that the service you are providing is safe and secure. „I like the idea of testers, developers, anyone involved, actually stepping up and talking about what they’re working on today”. He believes that anyone in the tech community can contribute to the discussion and raise awareness about their role in ensuring ethical and legal compliance”, says Mathias Jansson. Regarding AI-generated content, he points out „it is one of those areas where legislation is lagging behind the cutting-edge technology. We are regulating, perhaps, things that happened yesterday, but not really what’s happening today, and definitely not what’s going to happen tomorrow”. Our host, Alex Mocioi, is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in software engineering and a decade in tech training.  The Shift Happens podcast is supported this season by Mindera Romania, a leader in software development.

    26 min
  4. Nicole van der Hoeven: “A good tester truly understands the culture of the application”

    21/02/2025

    Nicole van der Hoeven: “A good tester truly understands the culture of the application”

    If we want to bring testers and developers together, what better way than through performance testing and performance engineering? Nicole van der Hoeven, the guest of this episode, is a Senior Developer Advocate at Grafana Labs. She’s been in the performance engineering space for more than a decade, most of that time as a consultant, helping teams test distributed systems and make them more reliable.  Nicole believes that good testers truly understand the culture of the application, the company, and the people they are working with. She explains that different tools use different terminology - JMeter has threads, K6 uses virtual users, and others refers to scenarios or populations - but the core concepts remain the same.  Every tool provides ways to introduce delays (such as think time, pacing, pauses, or sleep functions) and follows similar principles. Understanding these fundamentals allows testers to adapt to any performance testing tool. Don’t miss the discussion with Nicole. Our host, Alex Mocioi, is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in software engineering and a decade in tech training.  The Shift Happens podcast is supported this season by Mindera Romania, a leader in software development.

    34 min
  5. Building Accessible Tech with AARON INGRAM

    20/01/2025

    Building Accessible Tech with AARON INGRAM

    The topic of this episode is Building Tech Products for Tech People. In this industry, professionals strive to create software designed for humans. This theme is central to the episodes in this season. Aaron Ingram has been a tester for approximately a decade, with a significant part of his career focused on automated testing. He has developed multiple testing products within his agency, enabling them to create and sell solutions like accessibility packages to clients.  Aaron explains, “I’ve always been curious about how things work, how you can break something and put it back together again.” He believes that breaking things helps you understand how tobuild them, much like playing with LEGO.   Is innovation driven by technology, or are product people leading the creation of new software? Aaron believes product people are the driving force: they identify what needs to bedone and guide the development process.  Empathy and support are essential for progress. That’s why software should be built by humans for humans, by people who understand user needs. This is something AI tools, particularly those used for automated accessibility testing, might struggle to fullycomprehend.  Our host, Alex Mocioi, is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in software engineering and 10 years in tech training. Shift Happens podcast is supported this season by Mindera Romania, a leader in software development.

    23 min
  6. Journalist Vitalie Cojocari about Manipulation in the Era of Information

    17/12/2024

    Journalist Vitalie Cojocari about Manipulation in the Era of Information

    As a journalist with twenty years of experience in the field, Vitalie Cojocari covers critical and relevant aspects impacting social, political, economical and environmental issues in Romania. He started his career at ProTV Chisinau, he then worked at Pro TV Bucharest and recently he was co-opted by Euronews Romania, where he followed his dream to create his own show "Voices that matter".  "Television journalism is the professional calling of my life. It is the job I have always wanted to do, I love what I do now and I hope I'll be able to enjoy this activity a long time from now". VitalieCojocari states that journalism represents him, as he's doing it in order to inform people, to help the public have a better understanding about the topics he covers. He's passionate about live news as they create the challenges ofhistory being written right before our eyes.  "I'm sure, positive sure, that AI could never steal my job, because AI will not be in this position to have emotions like me and will not have the opportunity ro make mistakes, because it's in my duty to make mistakes sometimes - and to be disruptive, and people can be disruptive more than AI", Vitalie emphasizes the human approach that benefits creativity andinnovation. Our host is Alex Mocioi, a professional with 20 years of experience in software engineering and 10 years of experience in tech training.Shift Happens podcast is supported this season by Mindera - Romania, leader in software development.

    30 min
  7. Rachel Kibler: If we can raise risks early, then we have less to do with the software itself

    21/11/2024

    Rachel Kibler: If we can raise risks early, then we have less to do with the software itself

    Rachel Kibler has been in the testing industry for nine years. Initially a lawyer, Rachel found this profession unfulfilling, and her love for logic and problem-solving led her to pivot into testing, where she discovered her passion for understanding systems and people. "I loved math," she shares, "and math just made sense to me. That’s why I chose testing." Rachel shares her thoughts on AI’s role in testing, acknowledging that while AI excels at finding efficient solutions from point A to point B, it lacks the human capacity for empathy, which she sees as crucial to understanding users' needs and complex real life problems. "What makes us human is our ability to have empathy and depth, to think about people in their daily lives. This human element in testing is what ensures that software meets users true needs." Software tested solely by tools often misses critical insights into human interaction: "If we can identify risks early, we’ll have less rework with the software itself," Rachel notes, underscoring the proactive role of testers in product development. Rachel believes that to expand our knowledge, we should delve into fields such as psychology, design, history, biographies, and even art documentaries to gain new insights into human behavior and creative problem-solving. To maintain focus and balance, she emphasizes good sleep and a natural daily rhythm, often listening to podcasts while doing chores and finding energy in waking without an alarm. For Rachel Kibler, testing goes far beyond tools and code, it's about understanding, empathizing, and building software that truly serves people. Our host is Alex Mocioi, a professional with 20 years of experience in software engineering and 10 years of experience in tech training. Shift Happens podcast is supported this season by Mindera - Romania, leader in software development.

    33 min
  8. Melissa Tondi: Find your community!

    24/10/2024

    Melissa Tondi: Find your community!

    Melissa Tondi is the Director of Technology Enablement at Campminder, a Principal at Disrupt Testing, and a frequent speaker at various conferences, with over 20 years of experience in the testing industry. “I think that a detail-oriented mindset as well as being very curious are the things that made me excel and find a home in software testing” - Melissa reflects on her journey from being highly detail-oriented to discovering the importance of curiosity in modern software development. She explains how balancing these two traits helped her find success in software testing more than 20 years ago. We also explore the concept of company culture, what it really means, how it forms organically through collaboration, and why leaders must ensure that the culture they envision aligns with what their teams are creating.  Another key topic is the 80/20 rule: dedicating 80% of time to company work and 20% to innovation and personal development. Melissa discusses how this framework fosters creativity and efficiency across industries, ensuring that everyone, regardless of role, has space to grow. Additionally, Melissa also touches on the idea of emergent leadership, how natural leaders surface within teams, even if they aren’t formally in leadership roles. Finally, Melissa encourages listeners to “find their community” and stay connected with like-minded individuals who support and inspire growth. Listen to the entire podcast to hear Melissa’s invaluable insights on leadership, culture, and innovation in the tech world! Our host is Alex Mocioi, a professional with 20 years of experience in software engineering and 10 years of experience in tech training. Shift Happens podcast is supported this season by Mindera - Romania, leader in software development.

    46 min
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About

"SHIFT Happens" is a podcast that explores the power of change and transformation in our lives, particularly in the areas of technology and career. Through interviews with thought leaders, experts, and everyday people, we dive deep into the experiences and insights that drive personal and professional growth. Join us as we explore the unexpected ways in which shift happens, and discover how you can embrace change and leverage technology to create positive transformation in your career and life. Our host is Alex Mocioi, tech trainer and entrepreneur in the IT sector.

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