[Testers' Day 2024] Community Members Interviews 🎤

Hi Community members, :wave:

To celebrate the upcoming Testers’ Day on Sep 9, 2024, we want to highlight the stories and experiences of a few notable testers in our community. Hence, we reached out to a few members, who also happen to be our Academy instructors, and some Katalon Creators as well to interview them about their testing journeys.

Over the next few days, we will be posting their interviews in this thread.

For now, please enjoy this short video that we have worked with them to put together. :heart:

2 Likes

Today, we got a chance to sit down with Kalpana Kukreja (@kirankukreja51), one of our Academy instructors and also Creators. Kalpana is a seasoned test consultant with extensive hands-on experience across multiple testing domains, including functional, API, automation, and accessibility testing. She is an avid explorer who loves to get her hands on various testing domains and tools.

Check out her sharing below :point_down:


1. How did you become a tester/What motivated you to become a tester and what keeps you passionate about it today?

I became a tester by chance during my campus placement when I was assigned to testing. Initially, I knew little about it, but as I learned the basics, I realized how crucial testing is in software development. This sparked my passion, and I pursued it wholeheartedly. The continuous learning and evolving challenges in testing keep me passionate, as there’s always something new to discover. Knowing that my work directly contribute to the quality and success of a product keeps me motivated every day.

2. Can you share with us one of your memorable experiences throughout your testing journey that has motivated you to give back to the community?

A memorable experience was mentoring fellow testers and receiving feedback from learners who benefited from my Katalon Academy courses. Hearing how my courses helped them achieve certifications and advance their careers was incredibly fulfilling. This inspired me to continue creating valuable content and helping others in their testing careers. Contributing to the community and seeing others succeed is what drives me to keep giving back.

3. As a Katalon Academy Instructor yourself, how do you see your role in contributing to the growth and success of the testing community?

As a Katalon Academy Instructor, I see myself as a mentor and guide, aiming to provide practical and insightful content that addresses real-world testing challenges. I strive to equip learners with the skills they need to succeed while also incorporating the latest developments in testing into my courses, so that they can stay updated with the latest trends in testing. By empowering testers with knowledge and practical skills, I contribute to the community’s growth and help others reach their full potential.

4. What advice(s) would you give to testers who just started out in Automation testing, or those who aspire to advance their careers in this field?

For beginners, start with the basics of testing and automation, and gradually move to advanced topics. Focus on understanding the ‘why’ behind the ‘how’, and gain hands-on experience through real-world or open-source projects. Practice makes perfect after all.

For those looking to advance their careers, continuous learning is key—stay updated with the latest tools and best practices, and engage with the community (such as on Katalon Community forum) through networking and events.

And last but not least, be patient and persistent; challenges are part of the journey (and there will be times when things don’t work as intended), but with determination, you can overcome them and grow in your career.


Thank you very much Kalpana for your sharing. We wish you many more successes to come in the future!

:information_source: You can learn more about Kalpana, and check out her courses here: https://academy.katalon.com/instructor/kalpana-kukreja/

Let’s welcome another one of our Katalon Academy instructors, Raghav Pal (@Raghav)! Raghav is an educator and teaches various topics related to Automation, Testing, CI/CD, and Devops. He was an Automation Test Architect and has led multiple test automation projects.

He has been teaching Katalon Studio since 2017. He is also a corporate trainer who has been involved in helping and working with corporations select and implement the right automation tools.


1. How did you become a tester/What motivated you to become a tester and what keeps you passionate about it today?

My journey into testing began purely by chance. After completing my initial training at the organization where I started my career, I was assigned to a testing project due to business needs. That was my first encounter with testing. When I later transitioned to Automation Testing, I was amazed by how we could leverage code and tools to automate the testing process, eliminating the need to manually execute each step. Over time, my interest in the field grew, and I gained valuable experience.

Years later, I joined a startup where I was tasked with setting up an entire automation testing process from scratch. This also involved training and mentoring a new team. The challenge was invigorating, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. That passion for teaching and training continues to drive me today.

2. Can you share with us one of your memorable experiences throughout your testing journey that has motivated you to give back to the community?

Yes, so in nearly every Test Automation project I have been a part of, there were moments when we needed assistance with code, functionality, or process. I often turned to online resources where others had generously shared their knowledge, experiences, and solutions.

These resources were invaluable to my growth. As I gained more experience, I realized that I could contribute as well. This realization motivated me to start giving back and helping others in the community, just as others had helped me before.

3. As a Katalon Academy Instructor yourself, how do you see your role in contributing to the growth and success of the testing community?

I view Katalon Academy as a greatl learning platform, and as an instructor, my role is crucial in empowering learners to acquire in-demand skills, helping to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and building my learners’ confidence through hands-on experience. My goal is to ensure that learners are well-equipped to succeed in the testing field.

4. What advice would you give to testers who are just starting out in Automation Testing, or those who aspire to advance their careers in this field?

Automation Testing is an incredible field, and with the right mindset and a genuine desire to learn, it can be transformative. Start by mastering the basics and building a solid foundation. Choose the right tools and commit to practicing consistently.

You should also strive to understand the ‘why’ behind automation, remain patient, and stay persistent. And most importantly, never stop learning!


Thank you Raghav for your sharing. Our team and all the Katalon users & Academy learners out there greatly appreciate what you have done for the Academy!

:information_source: You can learn more about Raghav, and check out his courses here: Meet Our Instructor | Raghav Pal

1 Like

Sanket Dudhe (@sanket7843) joined our Katalon Creator Program as well as became our Katalon Academy instructors last year, but he has already contributed insightful educational content on the Academy and delivered engaging events/webinars with us.


1. How did you become a tester/What motivated you to become a tester and what keeps you passionate about it today?

During my computer science studies, I discovered a passion for software testing. While I enjoyed programming, I found more satisfaction in identifying and fixing issues. Testing appealed to my detail-oriented nature and allowed me to ensure that software works as intended.

The continuous learning and problem-solving in testing keep me engaged. Every project offers new challenges, and knowing that my work helps prevent issues for users fuels my passion to this day.

2. Can you share with us one of your memorable experiences throughout your testing journey that has motivated you to give back to the community?

One of my most memorable experiences was tackling a challenging software issue that had stumped our team. Solving this problem boosted my confidence and it also showed me the importance of knowledge sharing. This experience motivated me to give back by mentoring newcomers and creating educational content. I aim to foster the same sense of collaboration and learning that helped me, whether through forums, mentoring, or educational materials.

3. As a Katalon Academy Instructor, how do you see your role in contributing to the growth and success of the testing community?

As a Katalon Academy Instructor, I see myself as a mentor who help to equip beginners in automation testing with practical skills and industry knowledge. I focus on detailed explanations, hands-on exercises, and real-life examples to help my learners apply what they have learned.

I also encourage my learners to stay current with industry trends. And, seeing their professional growth is incredibly rewarding and motivates me to continue supporting the testing community.

4. What advice would you give to testers who are just starting out in Automation Testing, or those who aspire to advance their careers in this field?

For beginners in automation testing, focus on gaining hands-on experience with various tools. Seek learning opportunities through webinars, workshops, and peer feedback. For those looking to advance, embrace challenging projects and participate in industry discussions. Continuous learning, adaptation, and active community involvement (for example engaging with others on Katalon Community forum) are key to professional growth and success in automation testing.


Thank you Sanket for your sharing! We look forward to seeing more of your helpful learning content on the Academy!

:information_source:You can learn more about Sanket, and check out his courses here: Meet Our Instructor: Sanket Dudhe

1 Like

Last but not least, please welcome Ravikanth Edamakanti (or Ravi for short). An experienced QA professional specializing in both functional and API Services testing, Ravi is also keen on giving back to the community through informative YouTube videos, helping viewers understand and implement various automation tools and techniques. Check out his sharing below.


1. How did you become a tester/What motivated you to become a tester and what keeps you passionate about it today?

I started as a Chemical Engineer but soon realized my passion was in ensuring the quality of the software used in industry. The challenge of finding flaws in complex systems motivated me to transition into QA. What drives me is the responsibility of ensuring software reliability before it reaches users. Automation tools like Katalon Studio keep things exciting, with constant opportunities to learn and improve. Solving real-world problems and delivering flawless product releases continues to fuel my passion.

2. Can you share with us one of your memorable experiences throughout your testing journey that has motivated you to give back to the community?

Early in my career, I worked on automating a complex banking system under tight deadlines. Despite the pressure, my team and I streamlined the process using tools like Katalon Studio. The experience highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and I benefited greatly from the insights of seasoned testers. This motivated me to give back to the community through mentorship and sharing my own experiences.

3. As a Katalon Academy Instructor yourself, how do you see your role in contributing to the growth and success of the testing community?

My role as a Katalon Academy Instructor is to empower both new and experienced testers. I focus on simplifying complex automation concepts and providing practical training that can be applied to real-world projects.

By sharing my knowledge and experiences through courses, webinars, and tutorials, I am helping other testers to gain more confidence in solving challenges and developing effective testing strategies. It is rewarding to watch learners grow and contribute their own solutions to the community.

My mission is to help others navigate the evolving world of test automation and inspire the next generation of testers to share their expertise.

4. What advice(s) would you give to testers who just started out in Automation testing, or those who aspire to advance their careers in this field?

First, you need to start small, but think big at the same time. That means mastering the basics of tools such as Katalon Studio and build your expertises gradually with small, manageable tasks.

Second, invest in learning. The field of test automation is constantly evolving, so, it is important to stay curious and upskill yourself via resources such as community forum such as Katalon Community, and learning platforms like Katalon Academy.

Third, focus not just on how to use tools but also on why they are used—understanding test strategies and business goals will make you a stronger tester.

And lastly, practice problem-solving through real-world projects as much as you can to sharpen your troubleshooting and debugging skills as well as participate in community discussions to strengthen your knowledge.


Thank you Ravi for your sharing and for providing all of our learners with such helpful content thus far.

:information_source:You can learn more about Ravi, and check out his courses here: Meet Our Instructor | Ravikanth Edamakanti

2 Likes