Interview with Pauline: The Importance of Women in Software Testing

We are proud to share an interview with our own Pauline Alfonso, a Senior Consultant at Ictual and President of the Curaçao Testing Qualifications Board. During her recent interview with the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), she shared her journey and thoughts on the importance of women in software testing.

The Need for Diversity in Tech Testing

When asked why diversity is vital in tech testing, Pauline stated that It’s not just about having different perspectives. It’s also about understanding the end-user experience better. People come from different backgrounds and have different needs when it comes to technology. A diverse group of testers can help ensure that all users’ needs are met with a product or feature before it’s released publicly. Pauline believes that a diverse team brings those alternative views and can help you think outside of the box when tackling technical issues.

Women's Role In Tech Testing

While there have been some advances made when it comes to getting more women involved in tech testing, there is still much progress to be made. In order to get more women involved in tech testing, we need to focus on early education and give girls access to STEM programs that will help them become confident enough to take part in these projects later on. Also to note is that companies should put emphasis more on hiring female testers so they can diversify their teams with both genders represented equally—and also provide mentorship opportunities for young girls who are interested in becoming involved with tech-related projects.

Looking To The Future

On the plus side, companies are starting to finally realize how important diversity is when it comes to tech testing hopefully, this is an upwards trend where we will see more progress being made over time. Pauline believes that having a more balanced ratio between men and women working together on technical issues can bring great results—both now and into the future—for everyone involved across various industries.