Quality Talks Podcast

Quality Talks Podcast
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Stu & Chris together, have more than 30 years combined experience in the quality, software testing and the general technology industry, and on the Quality Talks podcasts they will be discussing, along with special guests, all the hot topics on everyone minds.....and those that may not be :)

  1. Oct 8

    The Next Chapter: Beyond The First 30 Days - Turning Understanding into Action

    So, you've made it through the first 30 days. You've listened, asked questions, built relationships and started to understand the environment. But what happens next? In this episode of Quality Talks, Chris Pratt and Stu Day explore what comes beyond the first 30 days — turning understanding into action, shaping a strategy, creating principles and bringing people along on the journey. They discuss why there is no cookie-cutter approach to change, the importance of building a strategy around the organisation you're actually in, and how communities of practice and maturity models can help turn ideas into meaningful, incremental progress. They also explore some of the traps leaders can fall into — from knee-jerk engineering to imposing solutions without understanding the problem — and why sometimes the best answer is to slow down and think before you act. Key Takeaways: The first 30 days are about understanding; what comes next is turning that understanding into action. There is no cookie-cutter approach to leading change — your strategy needs to fit the organisation you're in. Turn what you've learned into a story, a vision and a roadmap that people can understand and contribute to. Bring people into the strategy rather than imposing solutions on them. Principles need to be understood and lived, not simply written down. Communities of practice can help turn principles into everyday conversations, learning and behaviour. Maturity models can help identify incremental improvements, but the conversation behind the score is often more valuable than the score itself. Beware of jumping straight to solutions. Sometimes the best thing you can do is slow down, understand the problem and consider the bigger picture. Chapters: 00:00 – So What Happens Next? 02:02 – What's Been Happening Since The Last Episode? 08:30 – Listener Questions: How Do You Get Into The Meetings You Need To Be In? 12:50 – Beyond The First 30 Days 16:19 – Ingredients, Recipes & Strategy 19:41 – Turning Information Into A Story 21:56 – Building A Roadmap & Bringing People Along 25:47 – Creating Quality Principles 32:18 – From Principles To Action 39:04 – How Do We Know We're Improving? 43:42 – Moving Beyond QA & Testing 50:45 – Avoiding Knee-Jerk Engineering 53:00 – What Are We Saying No To? 57:20 – The God Complex 59:09 – Wrapping Up

  2. Sep 23

    The Next Chapter: The First 30 Days - Start With Understanding

    Summary Starting a new role or trying to influence change can create a strong urge to make an immediate impact. But what if the most important thing you can do first is simply understand? In this episode of Quality Talks, Chris Pratt and Stu Day explore what the first 30 days of a new role — or a new chapter of change — can look like. They discuss the importance of listening, empathy, building relationships, understanding context and resisting the temptation to change things simply because they worked somewhere else. They also explore Stu's approach to using a quality framework to gather information, understand where teams are today and start shaping a vision for where they could go next. Key Takeaways: The first 30 days should start with understanding, listening and empathy.Building meaningful relationships is critical to establishing trust and credibility.Don't assume that something needs changing simply because it worked differently somewhere else.Understand the history and context behind why things are the way they are.Impact doesn't always mean making immediate, tangible change.Quality assessments should be used to gather information and drive conversations, not simply generate scores.The conversation and the "why" behind the data are more important than the score itself.Quality should be considered through People, Process, Tools and Outcomes.Start with outcomes and value rather than simply implementing tools or automation.A framework should help you understand an organisation, not become something you try to force onto it.Don't expect a 30- or 90-day plan to happen perfectly or to a fixed timetable.Build a vision collaboratively, and remain open to where the journey takes you.Sometimes the first step towards change is simply asking better questions. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & The Romesh Ranganathan Show 02:53 – What's Been Happening Since The Last Episode? 05:17 – The Power Of Lived Experience 08:51 – Looking Ahead To MoTaCon 10:32 – We've Had A Letter! 11:04 – The Breadth Gap 13:47 – Are You Applying For The Title Or The Role? 14:19 – Finding The Right Role For You 16:28 – Stepping Into Change 17:57 – What Do The First 30–90 Days Look Like? 18:47 – Applying The Approach Beyond Work 19:50 – The First 30 Days Start With Understanding 21:00 – Building Human & Historical Connections 22:24 – Trust & Credibility 23:20 – Understanding Why Things Are The Way They Are 23:48 – Empathy Starts With Listening 25:39 – Resist The Urge To Make An Immediate Impact 26:12 – Impact Doesn't Always Mean Change 28:23 – We've Seen This Before... 29:13 – When You Really Do Need To Make A Change 30:07 – Focus On Outcomes, Not Change For Change's Sake 30:36 – Don't Just Replicate Your Previous Organisation 31:25 – The Importance Of An Open Mind 32:58 – The Continuous Quality Assessment 33:27 – People, Process, Tools & Outcomes 34:00 – Understanding Psychological Safety 35:47 – Don't Overkill The Assessment 37:18 – It's About The Story, Not The Score 38:19 – What Should We Be Looking At? 40:42 – Quality Gates & Feedback Loops 42:58 – Tools Should Solve Problems 43:11 – Outcomes & Value 44:29 – What Happens To The Time We Save? 45:29 – More Isn't Always Better 46:22 – Are We Still In The First 30 Days? 47:12 – Don't Be Too Hard On Yourself 48:35 – Curiosity Never Stops 50:54 – Other Ways To Assess Quality 51:51 – What Happens After The Assessment? 52:38 – Don't Just Share The Scores 53:00 – What Does Better Look Like? 54:59 – Vision Without Attachment 56:18 – Bringing It All Together 56:52 – This Isn't A Maturity Model... Yet 57:34 – The Right Approach For The Organisation 58:35 – That's A Wrap! 59:19 – What Has Quality Talks Ever Done For Us?

  3. Sep 9

    The Next Chapter: Shifting Mindsets, Behaviours & How We Need To Be!!

    Stepping into a leadership role isn't just about learning what to do — it's about changing how you think, behave and show up. In this episode of Quality Talks, Chris Pratt and Stu Day explore the shift from technical expert to quality leader, the importance of adaptability, different leadership styles, and why good leaders don't need to have all the answers. They also share real experiences of dealing with pressure, accountability, team empowerment and the challenges of leading when things don't go to plan. Key Takeaways Leadership isn't about having all the answers.Adaptability is essential to effective leadership.Different situations require different leadership styles.Moving from technical leadership to people leadership requires a significant mindset shift.Good leaders enable others rather than becoming the bottleneck.It's okay not to know the answer — leadership is about helping find it.Progress is often more valuable than perfection.Knowing when to step in and when to step back is a key leadership skill.Empowerment and accountability can — and should — exist together.Continuous improvement means continually learning, adapting and challenging ourselvesChapters 00:00 – Intro & Quality Talks Banter 10:33 – The Next Chapter: How Do We Need To Be? 14:14 – What Does It Take To Become A Quality Leader? 17:25 – The Hidden Challenges Of Quality Leadership 20:00 – Strategy Isn't Created In Isolation 22:48 – Why Quality Leadership Never Feels 'Done' 24:34 – The Need For Speed & Pragmatic Quality 29:46 – Change, Learning & Never Having All The Answers 31:42 – You Don't Have To Have All The Answers 33:41 – Why Stu Loves Starting From Scratch 37:05 – The Learning Rabbit Holes 39:00 – From Technical Expert To People Leader 42:58 – Flip The Pyramid: Leadership As Enablement 45:59 – Technical Career Paths vs People Leadership 48:29 – Should Leaders Still Be Hands-On? 51:15 – Expert, Achiever & Catalyst Leadership 55:34 – When Coaching Isn't Always The Answer 56:30 – The Right Leadership Style For The Situation 58:38 – Shark-Infested Custard & The Power Of Starting 01:00:54 – Combining Leadership Styles 01:01:33 – Progress Over Perfection 01:03:04 – You Don't Know Where The Journey Will End 01:05:11 – How Do We Need To Be In The Moment? 01:07:17 – Don't Arrive Thinking You Know Everything 01:09:14 – Titles Don't Matter 01:11:10 – When Things Go Wrong... 01:13:09 – The 'Who's To Blame?' Moment 01:15:00 – Protecting The Team Under Pressure 01:17:07 – Listening, Empathy & Building Trust 01:23:21 – Managing Our Own Reactions 01:26:43 – Passion, Emotion & Constructive Conversations 01:29:23 – Accountability vs Empowerment 01:31:15 – From Testing Accountability To Whole-Team Quality 01:32:21 – Bringing It Full Circle 01:32:50 – That's A Wrap!

  4. Aug 26

    Quality Talks: The Next Chapter

    Summary Quality Talks enters a new chapter! Stu is joined by new co-host Chris Pratt as they talk about career change, finding the right role and what it really means to start something new. From understanding what you actually want from your career, to building your personal brand, dealing with frustration and imposter syndrome, navigating interviews and making the most of your first 90 days, this episode is packed with honest conversations and practical reflections. And this is just the beginning. The Next Chapter continues in future episodes as we explore the experiences of people navigating change, new opportunities and new directions in their careers. Takeaways Reflect on what is truly important in your role and life.Use exercises like clarity and contrast to define your ideal role.Be proactive in building your personal brand and network.Understand that the first 90 days set the tone for success.Manage frustration by questioning and learning from setbacks.Align your career moves with your core values.Be patient and strategic in your career development.Leverage community and networking for opportunities.Prepare for change by understanding organisational culture.Balance technical skills with cultural fit in new roles. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Chris Pratt 02:00 Chris Pratt shares his background and new leadership role 04:52 Discussing the importance of reflection and defining career goals 10:02 Exercises for clarity and contrast in career planning 15:02 Managing frustration and setbacks in career transitions 20:02 Building a personal brand and leveraging community 24:47 The significance of the first 90 days in a new role 29:56 Approach to onboarding and understanding organisational culture 40:09 Adapting to different company contexts and challenges 50:12 The importance of continuous learning and patience 59:58 Wrapping up and key takeaways for listeners

  5. Jul 14

    The Invisible Leader: Why Great Leadership Doesn't Need The Spotlight

    Summary In this episode, Stu Day explores the true meaning of leadership recognition, emphasising that leadership is about enabling others and finding fulfilment in their success rather than seeking personal accolades. He shares insights on shifting mindset, building environments for success, and the importance of humility and peer recognition. Key Topics Leadership mindset shift from self to teamRecognition as a byproduct of enabling othersBuilding environments for team successThe importance of humility in leadershipPeer recognition vs. personal awardsThe role of feedback in leadership growthLeadership as a privilege, not a rightThe loneliness of leadership and peer support Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Recognition 01:01 Challenges for New Leaders 02:01 Leadership Is Not About Immediate Recognition 03:00 Recognition Comes from the Role Itself 03:58 Success Through Others as True Recognition 04:52 Influence on Others' Success 05:52 Creating Environments for Success 07:08 Seeking Feedback on Enabling Others 08:08 The Power of Invisible Leadership 09:10 Humility and Sharing Success 10:10 The Impact of Leaders Who Don't Seek Credit 11:08 Leadership Can Be Lonely 12:05 Recognition Beyond Awards 13:04 Shift Focus from Self to Team 14:03 Leadership Is About Enabling Others 15:00 Peer Recognition and Support 15:56 Final Thoughts and Reflection

  6. Jun 30

    Picking Your Battles with Ben Dowen

    Summary In this episode - Picking Your Battles - Stu Day is joined by Ben Dowen to explore the evolving landscape of quality engineering, the impact of AI, and strategies for scaling quality practices in fast-moving teams. They share insights on mindset shifts, automation, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Key  topics Impact of AI on quality engineeringScaling quality practices in fast-paced teamsMindset shifts from traditional to modern quality engineeringAutomation and feedback loops in SDLCSupporting multiple teams with limited resourcesMaturity models for quality improvementUsing AI tools for debugging and release managementCultural shifts in quality practices Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Quality Engineering Challenges 06:09 The Evolution of Quality Engineering Mindset 12:17 Shifting Responsibilities in Testing 18:12 Building the Right Thing vs. Building Things Right 24:03 Understanding Customer Needs in Quality Engineering 30:00 Leveraging Internal Feedback Loops 31:01 Aligning Teams on Goals and Quality 33:50 Choosing Battles: Prioritising Work Effectively 36:18 Automating Release Processes for Efficiency 39:38 Context Switching and Team Collaboration 42:49 Scaling Quality Engineering Through Enablement 46:36 Understanding Maturity Models in Quality Engineering 50:19 Continuous Improvement and Quality Levels 53:26 Building Feedback Loops and Metrics 57:19 The Value of Automation in Feedback Loops 01:00:06 Exploring AI in Engineering Practices 01:03:01 The Impact of AI on Quality Engineering 01:06:09 Navigating Change and Embracing AI 01:09:53 The Commoditisation of Technology and AI 01:14:06 Maintaining Quality in an AI-Driven World 01:17:59 Final Thoughts on Quality Engineering and AI 01:23:33 End

    Picking Your Battles with Ben Dowen

  7. Jun 17

    The Human Connection: What Neurology can Teach Us About systemic Quality

    Summary After a short break, Stu Day returns with a personal story that sparked a new perspective on quality. Drawing parallels between the human nervous system and software delivery, this episode explores how quality isn't about finding defects—it's about understanding the flow of information, feedback, and signals across an entire system. From root cause analysis and observability to AI governance and systemic thinking, discover why the best quality professionals focus on the health of the whole system, not just the symptoms. A thought-provoking episode on continuous systemic quality, feedback loops, and the human connection behind how complex systems work. Takeaways Understanding systemic quality requires looking at the entire system, not just individual parts.Effective feedback loops are crucial for system health and quick issue resolution.Root causes often lie deeper than surface defects; addressing them prevents recurring issues.Analogies from the human body can help visualise and improve software systems.Incremental improvements over time lead to better system health and performance. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates 02:09 Health Challenges and Discoveries 06:36 Connecting Health to Systemic Quality 12:15 Understanding Root Causes in Quality 18:38 The Importance of Systemic Connections 22:26 Conclusion and Call for Engagement 24:12 The Real Human Connection - End

  8. May 20

    The Future of Quality Engineering with Jagrit Gyawali

    Summary In this episode, Stuart Day hosts Jagrit Gyawali for a conversation on the evolving role of quality engineering, leadership, and cultural change within tech organisations. Together, they explore the importance of soft skills, team dynamics, and fostering a shared sense of quality across teams. They also discuss the growing impact of AI on QA, practical ways to understand and measure quality within different organisational contexts, and how teams can embrace continuous improvement in an ever-changing technology landscape. Key Topics The evolution from “testing” to quality engineeringWhy soft skills are massively underrated in techBuilding quality as a shared team responsibilityGrowing junior talent and creating opportunitiesLeadership, influence, and cultural changeAI, automation, metrics, and measuring what really matters Chapters 00:00 Mental Health Awareness and its Importance 02:34 Introduction to Jagrit Gyawali and His Journey 05:16 Jagrit's Origin Story and Career Path 09:36 The Value of Practical Training in Quality Engineering 14:22 Evolution of Quality Engineering 20:20 The Holistic Approach to Quality Engineering 25:07 The Importance of Diverse Skills in QA 28:48 The Future of QA and Embracing Change 29:00 Diverse Backgrounds in Quality Assurance 32:36 The Importance of Soft Skills 36:51 Proactive Capability Building 39:31 Influencing Cultural Change in Leadership 44:20 Understanding Context and Empathy in Quality 49:54 Measuring Value and Quality in Teams 56:38 Understanding Test Coverage and Confidence 59:00 Feedback Loops and Quality Assurance 01:01:11 Technical Debt and Bug Clusters 01:04:05 The Role of AI in Software Development 01:10:04 Investing in People vs. Technology 01:12:21 The Future of QA in an AI-Driven World 01:23:14 Closing things out

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About

Stu & Chris together, have more than 30 years combined experience in the quality, software testing and the general technology industry, and on the Quality Talks podcasts they will be discussing, along with special guests, all the hot topics on everyone minds.....and those that may not be :)

Information

  • Creator
    Quality Talks Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Quality Talks Podcast
  • Show Website
    Quality Talks Podcast