Twitter popularity can be attributed to its real-time nature, brevity, and ease with which it allows users to curate and consume content. However, Twitter is not without its controversies, as evidenced by a high-profile incident involving Tesla CEO Elon Musk. In a recent argument on Twitter, he clashed with a former Twitter software engineer Eric Frohnhoefer over the problem of poor app function.
The public Twitter thread dispute between Elon Musk and Frohnhoefer over technical issues concerning the Android app’s performance highlights the importance of technical expertise in quality assurance. The argument revolved around the technical details of the app’s performance, which can be complex and challenging to diagnose and resolve. Effective quality assurance requires a deep understanding of the technology and the ability to identify and address technical issues promptly. This incident serves as a reminder that technical expertise is a critical component of quality assurance, and collaboration between technical experts in a bug reporting tool is essential for successful testing and debugging.
This argument illustrates how seemingly unrelated discussions can affect the software testing industry. By following influencers and staying engaged with broader tech conversations on Twitter, QA engineers can gain valuable insights into emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain, which are already impacting the software testing industry. Additionally, following influencers can help QA engineers stay connected to the broader tech community, which can help them identify new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
So if you’re looking to improve your skills, expand your knowledge, or simply stay connected with the QA community, following quality assurance leaders on Twitter is a great place to start.
Key Skills Every Aspiring QA Leader Should Develop
Want to stand out in QA? Technical skills aren’t enough anymore. The best QA leaders master a specific mix of abilities to get ahead. Sure, you need strong testing methodologies, but pairing that with clear communication will put you halfway there. Got analytical chops? Great! Now add adaptability to rapid tech shifts, and you’re cooking. One often overlooked skill? Knowing how to manage testing priorities during tight deadlines ā something that saves you countless hours of wasted effort. Results matter too, especially when you can show how your testing prevented costly production issues. Teams that track defect escape rates, for instance, typically spot problems 40% earlier in development. Build these competencies methodically, and you’ll drive innovation across your entire organisation besides improving quality.
1. Martin Fowler
Joined: October 2008
Followers: 345.1KĀ
Handle: @martinfowler
Intro:Ā
As a Chief Scientist at ThoughtWorks and author of several influential books on software development (Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code, Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture), Martin is one the most cited and popular quality assurance leader to follow. His writing has been instrumental in shaping the field of software engineering.
2. Angie Jones
Joined: December 2014
Followers: 112.5K
Handle: @techgirl1908
Intro:Ā
Meet Angie ā a heavyweight in automation engineering with 25+ patents to her name. As the mind behind Test Automation University, she’s both technically brilliant and has mastered diversity and ethics in tech testing. Her approach combines technical expertise with values ā something many engineers miss when focusing solely on code.
3. James Bach
Joined: February 2009
Followers: 18.3K
Handle: @jamesmarcusbach
Intro:Ā
Co-Founder of Rapid Software Testing methodology and author of Secrets of a Buccaneer-Scholar, James is known for his contributions to the software testing community and his advocacy for critical thinking and scepticism in testing.
4. Lisa Crispin
Joined: June 2008
Followers: 22KĀ
Handle: @lisacrispin
Intro:
Lisa is an Agile testing coach and author of Agile Testing book series. As an active member of the agile and testing communities, she is passionate about helping teams improve their testing practices.
5. The Ministry of Testing
Joined: September 2011
Followers: 26.8KĀ
Handle: @ministryoftest
Intro:Ā
MoT is not a university name, but a thriving online community and resource hub for software testing professionals. This is where testers go to connect, learn, and share knowledge. The company also hosts regular TestBash conferences for QA specialists.
We at aqua provide learning resources too. Here is our overview of AI testing trends to help you see how the rise of ChatGPT spinoffs changed the landscape of software testing. We also included practical examples and compared various test management solutions that have long or just recently been offering AI functionality.
Learn the 5 AI testing trends to save 12.8 hrs/week per specialist
6. Richard Bradshaw
Joined: October 2010
Followers: 17.5K
Handle: @friendlytester
Intro:Ā
Richard heads up Ministry of Testing as CEO, bringing serious expertise in software testing while championing the ‘whole team’ quality approach. He’s known for practical insights on modern testing, automation integration, and how quality becomes everyone’s responsibility in agile environments – not just the QA team’s problem.Ā
7. Maaret PyhƤjƤrvi
Joined: July 2008
Followers: 9,395
Handle: @maaretp
Intro:Ā
Maaret PyhƤjƤrvi is a well-known software testing expert, speaker, and trainer with over two decades of experience in the field. Maaretās expertise has been recognised with several industry awards, including the Most Influential Agile Testing Professional Person Award in 2016.
8. Myke Talks
Joined: December 2010
Followers: 3,629
Handle: @TestSheepNZ
Intro:Ā
Test automation consultant and trainer, Myke is known for his practical and actionable advice on test automation.Ā
9. Ash Coleman
Joined: January 2013
Followers: 3,408 followers
Handle: @AshColeman30
Intro:Ā
Ash brings fire to test automation by championing diversity and accessible tech while leading workshops that put bias testing front-and-center in modern QA. Want immediate impact? Start by embedding just one accessibility check into your existing test suite – you’d be shocked how many teams skip this fundamental step that affects millions of users.
10. Alan Page
Joined: July 2008
Followers: 4,965 followers
Handle: @alanpage
Intro:Ā
Alan is the Vice President for Engineering Services at Unity and author of The Art of Unit Testing. A recognised expert in the field of software testing, he is passionate about improving testing practices and helping teams deliver high-quality software.
Here is a list of 17 more QA influencers that you might find interesting:
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- Michael Bolton (@michaelbolton): Co-Founder of Rapid Software Testing methodology
- Smita Mishra (@smitapmishra): Founder of Fandoro
- Melissa Eaden (@melthetester): Senior Technologist at Unity
- Anne-Marie Charrett (@charrett): Independent software testing consultant and author.
- Elisabeth Hocke (@lisihocke): Agile testing enthusiast.
- Fiona Charles (@FionaCCharles): Software testing consultant and trainer.
- Keith Klain (@KeithKlain): Director, Head of Quality Engineering at KPMG UK and advocate for ethical tech industry.
- Parveen Khan (@Parveen_Khan10): Test automation engineer and software testing consultant.
- Simon Prior (@siprior): Test automation architect and consultant.
- Zeger Van Hese (@TestSideStory): Software testing consultant and trainer.
- Gwen Diagram (@gwendiagram): Test automation engineer, Leeds Testing Atelier organiser, diversity and inclusion advocate.
- Lena Wiberg (@LenaPejgan): Test automation consultant and trainer.
- Brent Jensen (@brentmjensen): Test automation engineer and co-host of the Test Guild podcast.
- Richard Paterson (@paterson_r): Head of Testing and Application Security, R&D Scotland at SAS
- The Test Tribe (@the_test_tribe): Online community for software testing professionals in India.
- TestProject (@testproject_io): Open source test automation platform.
- Elizabeth Zagroba (@ezagroba): Test automation consultant and trainer.
Modern Trends: Quality Engineering and Inclusive Testing
Testing isn’t what it used to be. There’s a significant change happening ā moving from reactive QA to proactive Quality Engineering. Smart QA pros are now mastering built-in quality from day one. Shift-left testing and automation are now baked right into CI/CD pipelines.
Here’s something that might surprise you: the most effective organizations make quality everyone’s job ā not just the testers’. You’ll see up to 60% fewer production issues when this approach is implemented correctly.
Another key trend worth watching is the push for inclusive testing. Top teams now routinely include accessibility testing and diverse test personas in their workflow. Want a practical starting point? Try testing your product with screen readers ā you’ll catch issues that affect millions of users but often slip through conventional testing.
Conclusion
You should track QA thought leaders across multiple channels to stay ahead of industry shifts. Twitter gives you quick updates, but don’t forget to track the deeper insights on LinkedIn and YouTube too. Many leaders are moving from traditional QA to Quality Engineering where the main focus is on prevention rather than just detection. The most successful teams have already started implementing collaborative testing practices earlier in development cycles, avoiding the common trap of siloed quality ownership.
By following QA influencers on other platforms such as LinkedIn and YouTube or their personal blogs, you can gain even more in-depth insights into QA thought leaders’ processes and get a better understanding of how they approach testing and QA. You can also learn about new techniques and test management solutions that are being used in the industry and get an opportunity to engage in discussions and ask questions.
In addition, following QA influencers on multiple platforms can expand your network and connect with other professionals in the field.
In conclusion, following QA influencers on various platforms can help you stay informed, improve your skills, and connect with other professionals in the industry. It’s an investment in your own personal and professional development that will pay off in many ways over time.
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