“Testing is like solving little puzzles every day and sometimes the tricky ones are the most fun.” - Monty Bagati -
With 17+ years in QA across industries, Monty shares his story of how he grew in testing, what drives him today, and how the Katalon community (and certification!) has shaped his journey. We had a warm and insightful conversation with Monty and here’s his story.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself! What do you do professionally, and what excites you most about your work?
I’m a QA Manager at Cognizant in Latvia, and I’ve been in the quality engineering space for over 17 years now. I’ve had the chance to work across different industries especially from Media and Entertainment to banking across India, the Middle East, and now Europe. What excites me most is helping people grow. Whether it’s building better testing strategies or mentoring someone new to QA, I really enjoy creating an impact that goes beyond just the code.
Q: How did you get into software testing or automation? Was it intentional or a happy accident?
Definitely a happy accident! I studied mechanical engineering, and like many others, I was placed in a software role at IBM through campus recruitment. I didn’t even know what “testing” meant back then. But as I started working, I found it fascinating especially the problem-solving and detail-oriented nature of it. One small bug could impact an entire system, and being the one to catch it felt powerful. That’s how the journey began.
Q: What’s a typical day in your testing life like? Coffee, tea, bugs, scripts… and?
Lots of tea to start, of course! Then it’s usually a mix of reviewing test plans, debugging issues, attending stand-ups, and working with my team on automation scripts. I also try to carve out some time for learning, be it trying a new tool or preparing for a community webinar. And lately, mentoring has become a key part of my day. I’m currently guiding three people who are transitioning into QA roles, so I’m constantly checking in and helping them grow.
Q: How did you discover Katalon? (And what convinced you to give it a try?)
I came across Katalon a couple of years ago, 2018 to be exact, while looking for a test automation tool that could be both beginner-friendly and powerful enough for enterprise use. I was mentoring at the time, and I needed something low-code for people who didn’t have a deep programming background. Once I saw how easy it was to set up and how well it integrated with CI/CD tools, I was hooked.
Q: What’s your favorite Katalon feature or “aha!” moment?
Custom keywords and reusable test objects were game-changers for me. I had an “aha!” moment when I realized how much time we saved by not duplicating steps across multiple test cases. The modularity and scalability made our entire framework more maintainable, especially on larger projects.
Q: Is there a Katalon trick you wish more people knew about? Share the secret!
Yes! A lot of users don’t realize how powerful the combination of data-driven testing and custom keywords can be. You can build very flexible and clean tests this way. Also explore Katalon Recorder. It’s often overlooked but can help manual testers transition smoothly into automation.
Q: If you could automate anything in life (not just tests), what would it be?
Grocery restocking! Imagine if a bot could scan your fridge, check expiry dates, and reorder what you’re missing. It would save so much time and mental energy.
Q: What’s the most satisfying test you’ve ever written? (Or the bug you were most proud to catch!)
There was one time I caught a data sync issue in a banking app that could’ve caused serious real-time transaction delays. It was tricky because the bug didn’t show up consistently. Reproducing it, debugging it, and finally seeing it fixed was deeply satisfying. It’s moments like those that remind you why testing matters.
Q: What’s your #1 tip for someone just starting with Katalon or automation testing in general?
Start with the basics and understand the core concepts like test design, validation, and flow control. With Katalon, don’t jump straight into complex scripting. Use built-in features like Record & Playback, then slowly build up your skills with test suites, custom keywords, and integrations. Also don’t be afraid to ask the community for help. That’s what we’re here for.
Q: What made you want to get involved in the Katalon community?
I’ve always believed in community-driven learning. When I saw how welcoming and active the Katalon community was especially through the Creator Program and webinars I wanted to contribute. Sharing what I’ve learned and learning from others keeps me motivated.
Q: Is there a moment you felt proud to be part of this community?
Yes! Co-hosting the KataConnect events, especially the ones in Riga and Pune was a proud moment. Seeing people turn up, ask questions, and walk away excited to try something new with Katalon was really fulfilling.
Q: Anyone in the community who’s inspired or helped you? Give them a shoutout!
Big shoutout to the Katalon team and fellow creators. The support, encouragement, and recognition they give to contributors is something you don’t see everywhere. It genuinely motivates us to keep sharing and building.
Q: You hosted KataConnect #13 in Pune with Kalpana, choosing to conduct the session in Hindi. How did that choice shape the event and what were the most memorable moments?
Telling the session in Hindi instantly shifted the room’s energy. People felt more engaged and free to ask questions. We weren’t just teaching, they were co-creating: building test cases, pushing code via Git, and spinning up a working Azure DevOps pipeline in real-time. The vibe was more collaborative workshop than lecture authentic and impactful.
Q. Looking back on your journey, what advice would you give to someone just starting out in automation testing? What do you think is the most important mindset or quality they should develop to succeed and make an impact in this field?
When you’re starting out in testing, whether it’s manual or automated, my advice is to stay curious and enjoy the learning journey. You don’t need to know everything at the beginning, every experience, whether good or bad, helps you learn.
The most important thing is to be patient and to have the intent to learn with yourself. Testing can be hard, but every small step, whether it’s learning a new tool or improving a technique, counts. Keep moving forward, stay open to new ideas, and remember: progress is progress, no matter how small.
Q. How can automation testing specifically benefit the banking industry, especially when it comes to ensuring reliability and security?
Automation is a huge help in banking because it makes sure everything is working properly, even with all the transactions and sensitive info. It helps test things like payments and databases, so everything runs smoothly. For security, automation can run checks automatically every time there’s an update, making sure everything is safe and secure.
Q. In a highly regulated industry like banking, what are the main advantages of automation testing over manual testing?
In banking, there’s no room for mistakes, so automation is perfect. It makes sure tests are done consistently and accurately , without missing anything. Manual testing can be slow and prone to errors, especially with complex workflows. Automation speeds things up and makes sure the system always meets the rules and standards.
Q. What advice do you have for QA Professionals in the Automation Industry
I would say embrace automation to test faster and more accurately. Some applications are complex, so automation helps ensure everything works properly, especially when dealing with payments and data security.
Stay detail-oriented and be ready to adapt to new tools. The automation industry is evolving, and automating your testing will make you more efficient and valuable to the team.
Thank you, Monty, for being such a valued member of the Katalon Community. We’re lucky to have you with us! 
Feeling inspired by Monty’s story? If you’d like to become a Katalon Creator and share your own testing journey, just reach out! We’re always happy to welcome new voices into our community. 