Shirley Ugwa has emerged as a top voice in tech quality assurance and community building. From her roots as a software engineer to becoming a respected QA expert and community leader across the UK and Nigeria, her journey showcases the power of technical excellence combined with a passion for human connection. In this exclusive conversation, she shares insights on transitioning from development to testing, building thriving tech communities, and why quality should never be an afterthought.
Tell us a bit about your background and how you got into tech?
I’m a tech leader driven by a passion for building and nurturing systems, both technological and human. My career began as a software engineer, writing code and shipping features. However, I gradually became fascinated by what happens after code deployment: how we ensure it works reliably, scales effectively, and truly meets real-world needs. This curiosity drew me deeper into software quality and testing. Today, I lead teams dedicated to delivering high-quality software through modern testing strategies, continuous improvement, and fostering a quality-first culture across organizations.
What informed your transition from software engineering to quality assurance?
It wasn’t so much a switch as it was recognizing my authentic calling. As a developer, I found myself naturally gravitating toward quality concerns advocating for more robust testing protocols, asking probing questions during code reviews, and approaching bugs with an investigative mindset. I realized my interests extended beyond how software was built; I was passionate about whether it would withstand real users, unpredictable inputs, and challenging production environments. That insight compelled me to formalize my commitment to testing, and I’ve never looked back. There’s profound fulfillment in serving as a guardian of quality, not just functionality.
What makes the transition from development to testing particularly valuable in today’s tech landscape?
The transition represents more than just a job change; it’s a mindset shift. Former developers bring invaluable assets to testing roles. Technical depth allows us to communicate effectively with development teams. When reporting issues, we can speak the language of developers, often suggesting potential root causes or workarounds that pure testers might miss. Coding skills are increasingly essential in modern testing automation frameworks, CI/CD pipelines, and programmatic test data generation all benefit from understanding software architecture and programming patterns. This bridging of both worlds positions us uniquely to lead technical quality initiatives and drive organizational excellence.
Your reputation for community building and mentorship is well-established. How did this dimension of your work evolve?
I’ve always operated on the principle that knowledge should be shared, not hoarded. Early in my career, I benefited tremendously from mentors who invested time to guide me, challenge my thinking, and provide perspective. Paying that forward became a personal mission. I started hosting local meetups, speaking at industry conferences, and mentoring junior professionals. These initial efforts gradually expanded into organizing dedicated communities around testing, DevOps, and inclusive tech leadership across both the UK and Nigeria.
These spaces have evolved into vibrant ecosystems where professionals support each other’s growth, exchange hard-won insights, and amplify underrepresented voices in the technology sector. I’ve worked with communities across europe and have been instrumental in organizing workshops and conferences that bring testers together to share knowledge and best practices.
What’s your vision for the evolution of software testing and leadership in tech?
The future of testing transcends technical considerations, it’s fundamentally cultural. As we embrace AI, DevOps, and continuous delivery methodologies, we need to integrate quality thinking throughout the entire development lifecycle. This means reimagining testers as enablers, collaborators, and strategists, not just gatekeepers.
Regarding leadership, I’m a strong advocate for servant leadership creating environments where team members can perform their best work and develop professionally. Our industry needs more inclusive, emotionally intelligent leaders who value human potential alongside performance metrics. The legacy I want to leave is in the engineers I mentored, the systems I left behind that still work, and the values that carried through even after I stepped away.
What advice would you offer to professionals considering a career pivot in tech or looking to give back to the community?
Start small but start now. Whether you’re transitioning roles, exploring a new domain, or mentoring someone, you don’t need to have all the answers upfront. What matters is your commitment to growth and helping others evolve alongside you. Your journey, with all its challenges and triumphs, can serve as a beacon for someone else navigating similar waters. Share your experiences, remain curious, and never underestimate how profoundly one conversation can alter someone’s professional trajectory.
Get obsessed with fundamentals. Learn to write, not just code. Stay curious. And don’t be afraid to start small just make sure you’re solving something real. Also, don’t underestimate the power of patience. Building something meaningful takes time, and what you build is only as strong as the clarity of your thinking behind it.
How do you balance technical excellence with community building?
They’re not separate pursuits, they reinforce each other. Technical excellence gives me credibility and relevant insights to share with the community. Community engagement keeps me grounded, exposes me to diverse challenges, and reminds me why the work matters. When you’re solving real problems for real people, you stay motivated to maintain technical excellence. When you’re technically excellent, you have more valuable contributions to make to your community.
The key is intentionality. I’m deliberate about the things I say yes to, ensuring they align with my values: innovation that solves problems, infrastructure that scales sustainably, and integrity in how we work and build. This framework guides both my technical decisions and community involvement.
What’s next for you in advancing quality assurance and community building?
I’m focused on continuing to bridge the gap between international best practices and local implementation, particularly in Nigeria. There’s tremendous potential in our tech ecosystem, but we need more structured approaches to quality assurance, better mentorship programs, and stronger community networks. I’m working on expanding workshops and training programs that help people understand that testing isn’t just a fallback career, it’s a strategic discipline that requires skill, creativity, and continuous learning.
I also want to see more collaboration between UK and Nigerian tech communities. Both have so much to learn from each other. The UK has structure, regulation, and established testing culture, but Nigeria has speed, hunger, and flexibility. Working across both markets has taught me to balance structure with scrappiness, and I believe sharing these insights can benefit professionals in both regions.
Any final thoughts on the importance of quality in software development?
Quality isn’t just a technical concern; it’s a cultural imperative. In today’s software landscape, where quality expectations continue to rise and delivery timelines continue to shrink, the industry needs more professionals who can bridge the development-testing divide. Your development experience isn’t something to leave behind when entering testing; it’s your competitive advantage in creating more effective, efficient quality practices.
How we build is just as important as what we build. The legacy I hope to leave is in the clarity I brought to complex problems, the engineers I mentored who are now mentoring others, and the understanding that exceptional software isn’t merely built it’s thoughtfully tested, carefully nurtured, and ultimately elevated by a supportive, inclusive community
Shirley Ugwa continues to redefine technical leadership through an inspiring combination of technical excellence, human connection, and boundless curiosity. Her work across the UK and Nigeria reminds us that the future of tech belongs to those who not only master their craft but also lift others as they climb.
