Laveena Ramchandani – Senior Test Consultant

I personally feel and thank conferences specifically for women in technology that happen every year. These are a great platform to learn from and if you want something challenging why not prepare an abstract and apply to even speak at such events?

Laveena Ramchandani is working in Tech for over 7 years now. Her expertise is in software testing and quality assurance, a good mix of both technical and business awareness. She has learnt a lot through her career and is looking forward to gaining more knowledge and at the same time inspiring more testers around the world. 

In a Nutshell: Tell us a bit about your job and what role technology plays in it?

I am a senior tester with a comprehensive understanding of tools available for software testing and analysis. Currently, I am testing a data science-based model. The word “data science” has always thrilled me to exceed and learn further about it.

Where did your professional journey start and how did you get to where you are now?

My professional journey started soon after I graduated with a Computer Science degree. I had no idea what I could achieve professionally or how could my university learnings aid my work experience. I started off by working at a consultancy, with very little to no experience in testing I started my role with a well-known client in the Oil and Gas industry.

Sometimes I find when you are thrown with challenges, take them gracefully as you never know what you discover.

It was a big learning curve. However, it motivated me to learn a bit more and have some stretch goals. Sometimes I find when you are thrown with challenges, take them gracefully as you never know what you discover. I understood that I enjoy the world of quality assurance and testing. It has now been over seven years working with various firms as a software tester. Most certainly I picked up a lot of new technology stack and have learnt how to improve my tech and soft skills.

What is the greatest transformation in technology you’ve witnessed in your career?

When I started as a tester, most of the work I did for the first 3 years was more around the manual testing. I heard the word “automated tests” in my second role and felt a little uneasy at first as it required coding. I was a bit shocked when I heard the word Java for the first time at university. It was clearly not coffee beans but a coding language! I think the more I kept thinking I don’t want to code, the more it kept coming towards me!

I just took it as a challenge and learnt new languages such as C# and Javascript as well as some architecture around automation testing frameworks which was completely a new learning for me. I feel grateful today for being able to automate tests because I really did enjoy that side of testing.

I think the automation skills was a great transformation I witnessed and feel good to have learnt new languages. I can also say there is nothing to feel uncomfortable about coding. When I have some spare time, I try to do some courses and keep my practice ongoing.

Another thing I would like to mention is the move from waterfall methodology to agile methodologies was a big change. Certainly, a positive one as I could do more testing when a new feature was being implemented and not wait till the end once the product is ready to be tested,  even do some test-driven development!

When you think about ‘women’ and ‘technology’ what comes to your mind first?

We are very few in this field.

The first thing that comes in mind is that when I started my career in the technology world, I saw very few women in my teams. I used to be the only female and felt like we could do with more women. But I am so happy now, I see more women getting involved in tech, whether that’s speaking in public, blogging, podcasts or even supporting other women in tech.

We always hear there are not enough women working in Tech. What needs to happen to change that, which steps should be done to achieve gender equality in tech?

I think it starts from way earlier on, I mean during schooling days. IT/ICT should be a course a female student should look forward to. I have attended STEM events and I didn’t feel like IT was a popular choice. I myself did ICT till my A levels and did find it a little monotonous.

I personally feel and thank conferences specifically for women in technology that happen every year. I had never heard of these back few years ago, but I must say these are a great platform to learn from and if you want something challenging why not prepare an abstract and apply to even speak at such events?

Likewise, being part of more STEM related webinars, workshops even attending courses can help more women gain more knowledge and expertise and learn from it if this is what interests them and could be something to pursue as their career. Changemakers as well as women hackathons so you can get a tast of what a workday could look like. Try to find a role model or be one!

Which was the best decision in your career?

The best decision in my career was to study Computer Science. I feel so lucky to have chosen an IT based degree, as today I am thoroughly enjoying my career/job with a good mix of both technical and business awareness.

Another positive decision was when I started blogging at one of my old workplaces. It was quite challenging for me as I never wrote so much since my final year dissertation at university. Next on my list was to try public speaking, nerve wracking for sure, but so worth it.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

There is always something that’s a best fit for you, think of the world as a puzzle, you will fit somewhere and feel good about it.

I would advise that never feel unsure about things, go and try a new challenge. You cannot make a good decision until you have tried it. There is so much support out there, network, socialise, collaborate with individuals. You never know how a small chat can do wonders for you. There is always something that’s a best fit for you, think of the world as a puzzle, you will fit somewhere and feel good about it.

Laveena Ramchandani is working in Tech for over 7 years now. Her expertise is in software testing and quality assurance, a good mix of both technical and business awareness. She has learnt a lot through her career and is looking forward to gaining more knowledge and at the same time inspiring more testers around the world. 

See more interviews of our amazing Gals.