Breakpoint 2021 is a 2-day virtual summit on software quality. We're bringing speakers—dev, QA and open source experts—to talk about how the best engineering teams ship quality software at scale.
Pooja Shah is an automation nerd and an open source enthusiast. She loves brainstorming and implementing crazy ideas to figure out ways to improve product quality. With a blend of dev, QA and DevOps mindset, she strives to bridge the gaps between all the teams to attain the best results. Pooja will be on the Selenium panel which will be moderated by David Burns.
Can you tell us about your role at MoEngage Inc.?
Currently, I am leading Automation and Engineering Productivity at MoEngage Inc.
Is there a favorite project/side project in testing/tech you’ve worked on recently?
Not very recent, but yes, there’s something that I have worked on and I’m really passionate about. It is available for all to see - https://github.com/p00j4/alice .
Can you give us a sneak-peek into your session for Breakpoint 2021?
In the panel discussion, we would be learning when not to abuse Selenium or how effectively must one use Selenium to get value out of it for the long run.
What inspired you to create a tech-focused YouTube channel?
When I didn't find a solution to my problems easily in the content that already existed, I found it the hard way. This got me motivated to share my learnings with the larger audience. I set out with the intent that it would help some more folks, and they won’t need to walk on the hard roads anymore. This also became my recipe to recall learnings because I have my own videos teaching me :)
As someone who has spoken extensively at conferences and meet-ups, how did you approach public speaking and what advice would you give to folks who want to get started with it?
Mine started with a hunger to learn more from the people at the conference. Also, the community has a way of bringing you into the system. My advice for getting started would be:
1. When one teaches, two learn—so just go for it.
2. Don't fear failure. I have faced rejection a couple of times during my initial days. But then I learned from the community about my improvement areas, and the rest is history.
What are you reading/learning right now? What made you interested in this?
System Design. Understanding the LLD-level granularity can help me design more robust and scalable capabilities and automation frameworks to improve my team's engineering productivity.
What advice would you give to people who are new to testing?
Always keep your inner child alive. Curiosity and persistence are the key skills that will do wonders and help you grow exponentially.
