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EuroSTAR Conference

Europe's Largest Quality Engineering Conference

Track Talk, W5

Unlikely Paths: How our Backgrounds & Hobbies Enrich Testing

Alejandra Ugarte Bedwell

12:00 - 12:45 CEST, Wednesday 17th June

In my talk, I will start from my personal experience as someone whose path into testing came after studying arts, working in film, and even running a tanning salon freshly out of art school, almost in the style of a “choose your own adventure” book.

From there, I will open up the conversation towards what I believe is at the core of almost every tester I know: a sense of curiosity and a passion for challenges. No matter how we came to software testing, every piece of knowledge and every interest we nurture has an influence on how we are as testers.

Through my own examples, and those of others I know, I will encourage the audience to reflect on the path that led them to become testers. Sometimes it is difficult to realize how much those seemingly unrelated hobbies or professions inform our testing so I would like to encourage them to pursue new interests, hobbies and activities, not only because the changes around what we do demand different skills but also because in the end, if we are going to choose our own adventure, we might as well make it worth telling.

Additionally, I would like to ask for them to contribute with their own stories, ideally before or even during the talk via Whova or the app we use.

What you will learn

  1. Diverse backgrounds and experiences enrich the way we approach software testing
  2. Curiosity is a core driver for growth and problem-solving as a tester
  3. Pursuing interests and passions outside of work makes us better testers and expands our perspective

Session Details

  • Introductory
  • 45mins
  • Includes 15 Q&A
  • Developing and nurturing essential soft skills
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Check out this video from Alejandra Ugarte Bedwell to hear more about her talk on Unlikely Paths: How our Backgrounds & Hobbies Enrich Testing.

We look forward to welcoming you to EuroSTAR 2026.

Session Speakers

Alejandra Ugarte Bedwell

Public, Denmark

Lives and works in Copenhagen. Obtained her MFA in Advanced Photographic Studies from the International Center of Photography-Bard College in 2010 and worked as a digital lab assistant during her studies and after graduation, where her she found her passion for troubleshooting software.

In the past, she has collaborated as a production designer for film and video projects and has worked as a software tester for almost ten years, across different products and companies. In her free time, she can be found walking as part of an all-female metal marching band in several events across Denmark.

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