Colleague spotlight: say hello to Suman Bala
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In our fifth colleague spotlight feature, we sit down with Suman Bala, QA Manager here at Leighton. We’ll discuss her professional journey, what inspired her to pursue a role in QA and what life looks like behind the keyboard…
I’m currently working on one of our long-standing customer accounts, IAG Loyalty, on their Avios Rewards App platform. As a QA Manager, I lead and support our QA team and oversee test planning and execution. As a team, we focus on automation, improving our manual regression time and bug testing. I’m a big advocate for quality ownership and have introduced weekly bug testing sessions whereby everyone in the team contributes to testing in some capacity. In our first session, we managed to find 65 bugs in one hour which really demonstrates the value in this approach. I see myself as someone who is passionate about communities, so the QA community we have here at Leighton is a perfect environment for me to contribute and share ideas alongside those who share the same drive for quality and innovation. Within this community, I have recently introduced a mentorship programme in which we have created a supportive space to share knowledge, build confidence, and develop skills through regular check-ins, collaborative problem-solving, and shared learning goals. This has been particularly rewarding for me as we are now seeing the rest of the communities at Leighton adopt this approach. I’m also quite active in the Accessibility Champions Network, having recently taken part in my first lunch and learn session. Some of my colleagues from IAG Loyalty were able to join the session, so it was good to share that experience with them and help raise awareness around accessibility together.
I’ve only been at Leighton for two months, but what really stood out to me was their values, particularly passion and collaboration. I’m passionate about building strong communities, so already I could see two values that resonated strongly with me. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen how those principles are not only encouraged but actively practiced across teams and communities. Before joining I had some idea of the culture at Leighton but experiencing it first-hand has been even more impactful.
I studied computer science and engineering at university, before initially starting a role as a developer. I enjoyed writing code at the time, but really, I knew my passions were in testing. It wasn’t until a couple of years later when I was asked to do some API automation work, which I really enjoyed. It was at that point I knew this is the type of thing I wanted to pursue. I then spent the next few years in various testing roles, before moving to the UK in 2014. At first, I struggled to find a job and was told I didn’t have any UK testing experience. This was really disheartening because I had just spent the past ten years working in testing roles in India, but I refused to let it define me. Instead, I was able to secure a role as a Test Analyst, before joining Sky as a QA Lead, then eventually joining easyJet as a Lead Test Architect. Today I find myself as a QA Manager at Leighton and working alongside talented individuals doing what I love.
I’ve found that the softer skills typically outweigh the more technical skills required to be a QA Manager. Whilst keeping up to date with the latest automation and test management tools of course gives you an advantage to be successful in your role, having those more personable skills can really make the difference, particularly when you are managing a team. Having that openness and approachability is really something that I’ve grown to learn the importance of and throughout my career I’ve had some great opportunities to coach and mentor people who are at different stages of their testing careers. For example, I’ve helped to educate the next generation of testers by coaching a group of diverse people to get into software testing through a bootcamp sponsored by the UK Government. Being involved in this really helped me to learn the importance of creating inclusive working environments through mentorship. Whilst it was challenging to deliver this bootcamp, seeing the learners progress was hugely rewarding.
When I was working at Sky during the pandemic I worked as part of a testing team improving several performance issues on the website and the accessibility of the Sky News app. Because of the work we had been doing, we were entered into the European Testing Awards, making it on to the final list. This was a huge achievement for us as a team, but to top it off I won the Test Manager of the Year Award, too. This is something that I’m hugely proud of and see as a real reflection of my hard work over the years. Aside from winning this award, I was named as one of the top ten women leaders in business by Inside Business magazine in 2022, again a huge achievement for me.
No two days are the same. One day I may be mentoring a colleague, then the next collaborating with our developers to solve complex issues around bug fixes. No matter what QA role I’ve found myself doing, there’s always been a huge variety to the problem-solving and an opportunity to make a real impact on both the product and the team. The opportunities these roles have presented me have also been very rewarding. For example, I’ve been fortunate to deliver several talks on the Ministry of Testing, a global community and organisation dedicated to software testing and quality assurance and have contributed to several eBooks that focus on how to test different sites and apps. So, having the chance not only to work and support my colleagues, but also to provide insights and guidance to those outside of work is something that I want to continue doing.
The trust Leighton has in its colleagues. Despite only joining in February, it’s clear that there’s a strong culture of empowerment here. Colleagues are trusted to manage their own time, make decisions, and take ownership of their work. That level of trust creates an environment where people feel respected and valued. I think this extends to the way flexible work is handled here. Whether that’s working from home, flexible hours, or adjusting schedules to accommodate family needs, there’s a real sense of that flexibility here.
Leighton Lowdown on a Friday afternoon. These calls are a great way for the whole company to come together at the end of the week, share project updates, hear from the leadership team, and shout out the great work colleagues have been doing throughout the week. As someone who is still new to the business, it’s a great way for me to get to know my Leighton colleagues.
I want to continue and grow my community work. I’m particularly keen in getting involved with the younger generation of testers. I’ve done a lot of work previously within the testing community, but I want to focus more on helping younger people who are seeking to build a career in testing. Whether that’s through mentoring, speaking at events, or supporting new initiatives, I’m passionate about creating inclusive spaces where new talent can step into the world of software testing.
I’m ambidextrous, I can write with both hands!
Spending time with the family, I have a young son, so I enjoy doing activities with him. And when I’m not busy I try to do as little as possible!
The importance of showing up. I don’t mean that in terms of logging in every day – I mean being actively engaged, approachable and emotionally available for the team. A big part of my role is creating a safe and supportive environment where people feel heard and valued.
Be as visible as possible. Not in a self-promotional way, but by actively contributing and sharing your ideas. I think visibility builds trust and helps to open doors and create opportunities for growth.
Network. The more people you talk to, the more support you can get. I think when you’re new to a job, or just starting out a career it can often be hard to know where to turn or what questions to ask – but by connecting with others you open yourself up to practical advice and opportunities you might not have found on your own. In fact, networking is one of the reasons I was able to get the role I find myself in now. It was a Leighton colleague who interviewed me who saw one of my talks online around mobile testing.
In our fifth colleague spotlight feature, we sit down with Suman Bala, QA Manager here at Leighton. We’ll discuss her professional journey, what inspired her to pursue a role in QA and what life looks like behind the keyboard…
I’m currently working on one of our long-standing customer accounts, IAG Loyalty, on their Avios Rewards App platform. As a QA Manager, I lead and support our QA team and oversee test planning and execution. As a team, we focus on automation, improving our manual regression time and bug testing. I’m a big advocate for quality ownership and have introduced weekly bug testing sessions whereby everyone in the team contributes to testing in some capacity. In our first session, we managed to find 65 bugs in one hour which really demonstrates the value in this approach. I see myself as someone who is passionate about communities, so the QA community we have here at Leighton is a perfect environment for me to contribute and share ideas alongside those who share the same drive for quality and innovation. Within this community, I have recently introduced a mentorship programme in which we have created a supportive space to share knowledge, build confidence, and develop skills through regular check-ins, collaborative problem-solving, and shared learning goals. This has been particularly rewarding for me as we are now seeing the rest of the communities at Leighton adopt this approach. I’m also quite active in the Accessibility Champions Network, having recently taken part in my first lunch and learn session. Some of my colleagues from IAG Loyalty were able to join the session, so it was good to share that experience with them and help raise awareness around accessibility together.
I’ve only been at Leighton for two months, but what really stood out to me was their values, particularly passion and collaboration. I’m passionate about building strong communities, so already I could see two values that resonated strongly with me. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen how those principles are not only encouraged but actively practiced across teams and communities. Before joining I had some idea of the culture at Leighton but experiencing it first-hand has been even more impactful.
I studied computer science and engineering at university, before initially starting a role as a developer. I enjoyed writing code at the time, but really, I knew my passions were in testing. It wasn’t until a couple of years later when I was asked to do some API automation work, which I really enjoyed. It was at that point I knew this is the type of thing I wanted to pursue. I then spent the next few years in various testing roles, before moving to the UK in 2014. At first, I struggled to find a job and was told I didn’t have any UK testing experience. This was really disheartening because I had just spent the past ten years working in testing roles in India, but I refused to let it define me. Instead, I was able to secure a role as a Test Analyst, before joining Sky as a QA Lead, then eventually joining easyJet as a Lead Test Architect. Today I find myself as a QA Manager at Leighton and working alongside talented individuals doing what I love.
I’ve found that the softer skills typically outweigh the more technical skills required to be a QA Manager. Whilst keeping up to date with the latest automation and test management tools of course gives you an advantage to be successful in your role, having those more personable skills can really make the difference, particularly when you are managing a team. Having that openness and approachability is really something that I’ve grown to learn the importance of and throughout my career I’ve had some great opportunities to coach and mentor people who are at different stages of their testing careers. For example, I’ve helped to educate the next generation of testers by coaching a group of diverse people to get into software testing through a bootcamp sponsored by the UK Government. Being involved in this really helped me to learn the importance of creating inclusive working environments through mentorship. Whilst it was challenging to deliver this bootcamp, seeing the learners progress was hugely rewarding.
When I was working at Sky during the pandemic I worked as part of a testing team improving several performance issues on the website and the accessibility of the Sky News app. Because of the work we had been doing, we were entered into the European Testing Awards, making it on to the final list. This was a huge achievement for us as a team, but to top it off I won the Test Manager of the Year Award, too. This is something that I’m hugely proud of and see as a real reflection of my hard work over the years. Aside from winning this award, I was named as one of the top ten women leaders in business by Inside Business magazine in 2022, again a huge achievement for me.
No two days are the same. One day I may be mentoring a colleague, then the next collaborating with our developers to solve complex issues around bug fixes. No matter what QA role I’ve found myself doing, there’s always been a huge variety to the problem-solving and an opportunity to make a real impact on both the product and the team. The opportunities these roles have presented me have also been very rewarding. For example, I’ve been fortunate to deliver several talks on the Ministry of Testing, a global community and organisation dedicated to software testing and quality assurance and have contributed to several eBooks that focus on how to test different sites and apps. So, having the chance not only to work and support my colleagues, but also to provide insights and guidance to those outside of work is something that I want to continue doing.
The trust Leighton has in its colleagues. Despite only joining in February, it’s clear that there’s a strong culture of empowerment here. Colleagues are trusted to manage their own time, make decisions, and take ownership of their work. That level of trust creates an environment where people feel respected and valued. I think this extends to the way flexible work is handled here. Whether that’s working from home, flexible hours, or adjusting schedules to accommodate family needs, there’s a real sense of that flexibility here.
Leighton Lowdown on a Friday afternoon. These calls are a great way for the whole company to come together at the end of the week, share project updates, hear from the leadership team, and shout out the great work colleagues have been doing throughout the week. As someone who is still new to the business, it’s a great way for me to get to know my Leighton colleagues.
I want to continue and grow my community work. I’m particularly keen in getting involved with the younger generation of testers. I’ve done a lot of work previously within the testing community, but I want to focus more on helping younger people who are seeking to build a career in testing. Whether that’s through mentoring, speaking at events, or supporting new initiatives, I’m passionate about creating inclusive spaces where new talent can step into the world of software testing.
I’m ambidextrous, I can write with both hands!
Spending time with the family, I have a young son, so I enjoy doing activities with him. And when I’m not busy I try to do as little as possible!
The importance of showing up. I don’t mean that in terms of logging in every day – I mean being actively engaged, approachable and emotionally available for the team. A big part of my role is creating a safe and supportive environment where people feel heard and valued.
Be as visible as possible. Not in a self-promotional way, but by actively contributing and sharing your ideas. I think visibility builds trust and helps to open doors and create opportunities for growth.
Network. The more people you talk to, the more support you can get. I think when you’re new to a job, or just starting out a career it can often be hard to know where to turn or what questions to ask – but by connecting with others you open yourself up to practical advice and opportunities you might not have found on your own. In fact, networking is one of the reasons I was able to get the role I find myself in now. It was a Leighton colleague who interviewed me who saw one of my talks online around mobile testing.
In our fifth colleague spotlight feature, we sit down with Suman Bala, QA Manager here at Leighton. We’ll discuss her professional journey, what inspired her to pursue a role in QA and what life looks like behind the keyboard…
I’m currently working on one of our long-standing customer accounts, IAG Loyalty, on their Avios Rewards App platform. As a QA Manager, I lead and support our QA team and oversee test planning and execution. As a team, we focus on automation, improving our manual regression time and bug testing. I’m a big advocate for quality ownership and have introduced weekly bug testing sessions whereby everyone in the team contributes to testing in some capacity. In our first session, we managed to find 65 bugs in one hour which really demonstrates the value in this approach. I see myself as someone who is passionate about communities, so the QA community we have here at Leighton is a perfect environment for me to contribute and share ideas alongside those who share the same drive for quality and innovation. Within this community, I have recently introduced a mentorship programme in which we have created a supportive space to share knowledge, build confidence, and develop skills through regular check-ins, collaborative problem-solving, and shared learning goals. This has been particularly rewarding for me as we are now seeing the rest of the communities at Leighton adopt this approach. I’m also quite active in the Accessibility Champions Network, having recently taken part in my first lunch and learn session. Some of my colleagues from IAG Loyalty were able to join the session, so it was good to share that experience with them and help raise awareness around accessibility together.
I’ve only been at Leighton for two months, but what really stood out to me was their values, particularly passion and collaboration. I’m passionate about building strong communities, so already I could see two values that resonated strongly with me. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen how those principles are not only encouraged but actively practiced across teams and communities. Before joining I had some idea of the culture at Leighton but experiencing it first-hand has been even more impactful.
I studied computer science and engineering at university, before initially starting a role as a developer. I enjoyed writing code at the time, but really, I knew my passions were in testing. It wasn’t until a couple of years later when I was asked to do some API automation work, which I really enjoyed. It was at that point I knew this is the type of thing I wanted to pursue. I then spent the next few years in various testing roles, before moving to the UK in 2014. At first, I struggled to find a job and was told I didn’t have any UK testing experience. This was really disheartening because I had just spent the past ten years working in testing roles in India, but I refused to let it define me. Instead, I was able to secure a role as a Test Analyst, before joining Sky as a QA Lead, then eventually joining easyJet as a Lead Test Architect. Today I find myself as a QA Manager at Leighton and working alongside talented individuals doing what I love.
I’ve found that the softer skills typically outweigh the more technical skills required to be a QA Manager. Whilst keeping up to date with the latest automation and test management tools of course gives you an advantage to be successful in your role, having those more personable skills can really make the difference, particularly when you are managing a team. Having that openness and approachability is really something that I’ve grown to learn the importance of and throughout my career I’ve had some great opportunities to coach and mentor people who are at different stages of their testing careers. For example, I’ve helped to educate the next generation of testers by coaching a group of diverse people to get into software testing through a bootcamp sponsored by the UK Government. Being involved in this really helped me to learn the importance of creating inclusive working environments through mentorship. Whilst it was challenging to deliver this bootcamp, seeing the learners progress was hugely rewarding.
When I was working at Sky during the pandemic I worked as part of a testing team improving several performance issues on the website and the accessibility of the Sky News app. Because of the work we had been doing, we were entered into the European Testing Awards, making it on to the final list. This was a huge achievement for us as a team, but to top it off I won the Test Manager of the Year Award, too. This is something that I’m hugely proud of and see as a real reflection of my hard work over the years. Aside from winning this award, I was named as one of the top ten women leaders in business by Inside Business magazine in 2022, again a huge achievement for me.
No two days are the same. One day I may be mentoring a colleague, then the next collaborating with our developers to solve complex issues around bug fixes. No matter what QA role I’ve found myself doing, there’s always been a huge variety to the problem-solving and an opportunity to make a real impact on both the product and the team. The opportunities these roles have presented me have also been very rewarding. For example, I’ve been fortunate to deliver several talks on the Ministry of Testing, a global community and organisation dedicated to software testing and quality assurance and have contributed to several eBooks that focus on how to test different sites and apps. So, having the chance not only to work and support my colleagues, but also to provide insights and guidance to those outside of work is something that I want to continue doing.
The trust Leighton has in its colleagues. Despite only joining in February, it’s clear that there’s a strong culture of empowerment here. Colleagues are trusted to manage their own time, make decisions, and take ownership of their work. That level of trust creates an environment where people feel respected and valued. I think this extends to the way flexible work is handled here. Whether that’s working from home, flexible hours, or adjusting schedules to accommodate family needs, there’s a real sense of that flexibility here.
Leighton Lowdown on a Friday afternoon. These calls are a great way for the whole company to come together at the end of the week, share project updates, hear from the leadership team, and shout out the great work colleagues have been doing throughout the week. As someone who is still new to the business, it’s a great way for me to get to know my Leighton colleagues.
I want to continue and grow my community work. I’m particularly keen in getting involved with the younger generation of testers. I’ve done a lot of work previously within the testing community, but I want to focus more on helping younger people who are seeking to build a career in testing. Whether that’s through mentoring, speaking at events, or supporting new initiatives, I’m passionate about creating inclusive spaces where new talent can step into the world of software testing.
I’m ambidextrous, I can write with both hands!
Spending time with the family, I have a young son, so I enjoy doing activities with him. And when I’m not busy I try to do as little as possible!
The importance of showing up. I don’t mean that in terms of logging in every day – I mean being actively engaged, approachable and emotionally available for the team. A big part of my role is creating a safe and supportive environment where people feel heard and valued.
Be as visible as possible. Not in a self-promotional way, but by actively contributing and sharing your ideas. I think visibility builds trust and helps to open doors and create opportunities for growth.
Network. The more people you talk to, the more support you can get. I think when you’re new to a job, or just starting out a career it can often be hard to know where to turn or what questions to ask – but by connecting with others you open yourself up to practical advice and opportunities you might not have found on your own. In fact, networking is one of the reasons I was able to get the role I find myself in now. It was a Leighton colleague who interviewed me who saw one of my talks online around mobile testing.
In our fifth colleague spotlight feature, we sit down with Suman Bala, QA Manager here at Leighton. We’ll discuss her professional journey, what inspired her to pursue a role in QA and what life looks like behind the keyboard…
I’m currently working on one of our long-standing customer accounts, IAG Loyalty, on their Avios Rewards App platform. As a QA Manager, I lead and support our QA team and oversee test planning and execution. As a team, we focus on automation, improving our manual regression time and bug testing. I’m a big advocate for quality ownership and have introduced weekly bug testing sessions whereby everyone in the team contributes to testing in some capacity. In our first session, we managed to find 65 bugs in one hour which really demonstrates the value in this approach. I see myself as someone who is passionate about communities, so the QA community we have here at Leighton is a perfect environment for me to contribute and share ideas alongside those who share the same drive for quality and innovation. Within this community, I have recently introduced a mentorship programme in which we have created a supportive space to share knowledge, build confidence, and develop skills through regular check-ins, collaborative problem-solving, and shared learning goals. This has been particularly rewarding for me as we are now seeing the rest of the communities at Leighton adopt this approach. I’m also quite active in the Accessibility Champions Network, having recently taken part in my first lunch and learn session. Some of my colleagues from IAG Loyalty were able to join the session, so it was good to share that experience with them and help raise awareness around accessibility together.
I’ve only been at Leighton for two months, but what really stood out to me was their values, particularly passion and collaboration. I’m passionate about building strong communities, so already I could see two values that resonated strongly with me. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen how those principles are not only encouraged but actively practiced across teams and communities. Before joining I had some idea of the culture at Leighton but experiencing it first-hand has been even more impactful.
I studied computer science and engineering at university, before initially starting a role as a developer. I enjoyed writing code at the time, but really, I knew my passions were in testing. It wasn’t until a couple of years later when I was asked to do some API automation work, which I really enjoyed. It was at that point I knew this is the type of thing I wanted to pursue. I then spent the next few years in various testing roles, before moving to the UK in 2014. At first, I struggled to find a job and was told I didn’t have any UK testing experience. This was really disheartening because I had just spent the past ten years working in testing roles in India, but I refused to let it define me. Instead, I was able to secure a role as a Test Analyst, before joining Sky as a QA Lead, then eventually joining easyJet as a Lead Test Architect. Today I find myself as a QA Manager at Leighton and working alongside talented individuals doing what I love.
I’ve found that the softer skills typically outweigh the more technical skills required to be a QA Manager. Whilst keeping up to date with the latest automation and test management tools of course gives you an advantage to be successful in your role, having those more personable skills can really make the difference, particularly when you are managing a team. Having that openness and approachability is really something that I’ve grown to learn the importance of and throughout my career I’ve had some great opportunities to coach and mentor people who are at different stages of their testing careers. For example, I’ve helped to educate the next generation of testers by coaching a group of diverse people to get into software testing through a bootcamp sponsored by the UK Government. Being involved in this really helped me to learn the importance of creating inclusive working environments through mentorship. Whilst it was challenging to deliver this bootcamp, seeing the learners progress was hugely rewarding.
When I was working at Sky during the pandemic I worked as part of a testing team improving several performance issues on the website and the accessibility of the Sky News app. Because of the work we had been doing, we were entered into the European Testing Awards, making it on to the final list. This was a huge achievement for us as a team, but to top it off I won the Test Manager of the Year Award, too. This is something that I’m hugely proud of and see as a real reflection of my hard work over the years. Aside from winning this award, I was named as one of the top ten women leaders in business by Inside Business magazine in 2022, again a huge achievement for me.
No two days are the same. One day I may be mentoring a colleague, then the next collaborating with our developers to solve complex issues around bug fixes. No matter what QA role I’ve found myself doing, there’s always been a huge variety to the problem-solving and an opportunity to make a real impact on both the product and the team. The opportunities these roles have presented me have also been very rewarding. For example, I’ve been fortunate to deliver several talks on the Ministry of Testing, a global community and organisation dedicated to software testing and quality assurance and have contributed to several eBooks that focus on how to test different sites and apps. So, having the chance not only to work and support my colleagues, but also to provide insights and guidance to those outside of work is something that I want to continue doing.
The trust Leighton has in its colleagues. Despite only joining in February, it’s clear that there’s a strong culture of empowerment here. Colleagues are trusted to manage their own time, make decisions, and take ownership of their work. That level of trust creates an environment where people feel respected and valued. I think this extends to the way flexible work is handled here. Whether that’s working from home, flexible hours, or adjusting schedules to accommodate family needs, there’s a real sense of that flexibility here.
Leighton Lowdown on a Friday afternoon. These calls are a great way for the whole company to come together at the end of the week, share project updates, hear from the leadership team, and shout out the great work colleagues have been doing throughout the week. As someone who is still new to the business, it’s a great way for me to get to know my Leighton colleagues.
I want to continue and grow my community work. I’m particularly keen in getting involved with the younger generation of testers. I’ve done a lot of work previously within the testing community, but I want to focus more on helping younger people who are seeking to build a career in testing. Whether that’s through mentoring, speaking at events, or supporting new initiatives, I’m passionate about creating inclusive spaces where new talent can step into the world of software testing.
I’m ambidextrous, I can write with both hands!
Spending time with the family, I have a young son, so I enjoy doing activities with him. And when I’m not busy I try to do as little as possible!
The importance of showing up. I don’t mean that in terms of logging in every day – I mean being actively engaged, approachable and emotionally available for the team. A big part of my role is creating a safe and supportive environment where people feel heard and valued.
Be as visible as possible. Not in a self-promotional way, but by actively contributing and sharing your ideas. I think visibility builds trust and helps to open doors and create opportunities for growth.
Network. The more people you talk to, the more support you can get. I think when you’re new to a job, or just starting out a career it can often be hard to know where to turn or what questions to ask – but by connecting with others you open yourself up to practical advice and opportunities you might not have found on your own. In fact, networking is one of the reasons I was able to get the role I find myself in now. It was a Leighton colleague who interviewed me who saw one of my talks online around mobile testing.
