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EuroSTAR Conference

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Track Talk W8

How I am Unfolding my Potential as a Neurodivergent in Testing

Viviane Hennecke

12:00-12:45 CEST Wednesday 14th June

Ever felt different or worked with someone who you couldn’t understand? Who seemed to think somehow unlike than you? Maybe they did indeed. Are you aware that there are two main types of human thinking: neurotypical and neurodivergent? Whereas neurotypical thinking is often described as “linear thinking” neurodivergent thinking is more “cross-linked”. I am fascinated by the differences in behavior and perception of the world that results out of this important detail.

I think differently. But that’s not all. I behave differently and I have different needs. Why? I recently discovered through an algorhythm that I have a combination of ADHD, autism and HSP (highly sensitive person). But I adapted to the world as it is and blended in. That makes me a perfect fit for an agile environment where adapting to changing circumstances is key. I blame this part on my ADHD brain that loves discovering new things. My autistic brain, on the other hand, hates changes. So, I consider myself lucky that I have both of them. The two sides are balancing each other out, which leads to less difficulties than having only one of them, I assume. I developed a lot of implicit strategies to cope with it. To give an example: My family was always wondering why I used checklists so extensively, even as a child. Now I know: That was my autistic side bringing my chaotic ADHD brain under control.

I would like to share my personal story, and which strategies and characteristics are helping me finding my career path. For instance, how I got from the awkward little girl that hid in the bushes, to being voted ‘the most dreamy’ in school, to giving speeches in front of hundreds of people and taking leading roles in an international consulting company. It’s a story on how I get to shine in a branch of extroverts. I hope to inspire some of my fellow testers, especially those who also sometimes feel different. I’d like to make a stand that some typical qualities make neurodivergent people especially valuable in the testing world. I want to provide ideas as to what colleagues and employers can do to attract, interact, and appreciate neurodivergent people, and get them to stay.

Join this speech if you would like to listen to my insights on how that helps me shape my career, and what this teaches you about interacting with your fellow colleagues and/or employees.

What you will learn

  1. When we want to achieve a diversity of strengths, we need to nurture a culture of acceptance.
  2. Neurodivergency is not a sickness. It's a trait.
  3. I can use my strengths to build up my own strategies to overcome my weaknesses.

Session Details

  • Introductory
  • 45 Minutes
  • Includes 15mins Q&A
  • Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion
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Check out this video from Viviane Hennecke as she introduces her talk How I am Unfolding my Potential as a Neurodivergent in Testing.

See you in Antwerp for EuroSTAR 2023.

Session Speaker

Viviane Hennecke

Associate Manager – Accenture, Germany

Viviane’s focus is on structured improvements of quality processes in scaled agile product development initiatives. For that, she is combining testing experience with her background in communication management and training skills. This combination supports in defining and improving quality assurance processes, documenting and communicating them, and bringing them to life.
After working in project management at a small digital strategy consulting firm, she joined Accenture in May 2018. Completing a trainee in “Business Analysis and Testing” she took different roles that were all related to quality assurance in scaled-agile transformations such as agile tester, agile test coach, test manager for hybrid projects, and lean-quality coach. On the side she was co-creating a train-the-trainer training, collected speaker experiences, wrote articles, and contributed to a book, among other things. Overall, she is quite keen in exchanging with the testing community.

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