Every few years, software testing gets a new existential threat. Outsourcing was going to end QA careers. So was automation. Now it's AI. The doomsday headlines feel new each time, but the pattern stays the same. You’re met with the same anxiety and the same conversations with peers wondering if QA careers have a future. The problem is that we treat disruption as destruction, when in reality it’s an opportunity to reinvent yourself. And the people who do that well often share the same set of qualities. In this keynote, Kristel Kruustük draws on 15 years in software testing and her experience as a founder to uncover the mindset, habits, and decisions that have kept testers relevant through every wave of change and will continue to do so when the next wave hits.
Key Takeaways:
- Why disruption in software testing is a pattern, not a one-time event
- Why the "AI will replace us" story misses what's actually happening in the industry
- Real examples of companies and roles that have come back stronger after changes
- How to build resilience as a practical skill, not an abstract trait
- What to do in the next 6 to 12 months to position yourself for what comes next
