From Tester to Leader: Mentoring, Coaching & Management in Tech

What happens when you move from being an individual contributor to managing and developing others? In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, host Mike Hrycyk is joined by Heather Stapleton (PLATO, Delivery Leader, Atlantic Region) and Ellery Furlong (PLATO, Manager) for a practical conversation about mentoring, coaching, and management in tech with lessons from their own experiences, including how to build trust, support quieter team members, adapt your mentoring style, and avoid becoming a crutch for the people you lead. Moving into management isn't just about taking on more responsibility. It's about learning how to help others, and yourself, grow confidently in technology careers. Episode Transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

What's in your automation toolbox?In this special summer episode, host Mike Hrycyk is joined by automation and QA leaders who share the tools they're using to improve software quality, accelerate testing, andnavigate the growing influence of AI.From Postman for API testing and collaboration,to Ruff, Black, and SonarQube for code quality, to Jira Rovo and custom-built AI solutions, the conversation explores practical tools that are helping teams work smarter, streamline their workflows, and deliver better software.Whether you're a tester, developer, automation engineer, or QA leader, you'll come away with new ideas, new tools to explore, and a fresh perspective on what’s in the automation toolbox.Episode Transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, host Mike Hrycyk is joined by Jesslyn Dymond (TELUS) and Jason Kicknosway (PLATO) to explore what it really takes to build trustworthy, responsible AI systems.From first-time AI testing to real-world implementation, Jason shares how PLATO testers learned to work with AI and how quickly they discovered the importance of nuance, prompting, and diverse perspectives when evaluating performance.With trust in AI still low, Jesslyn brings a governance lens to the conversation, highlighting the need for transparency, explainability, and inclusive design, especially the integration of Indigenous perspectives, which are often missing from mainstream AI models.Whether you’re just starting your AI journey or already building with it, this episode offers a practical, human-centred look at AI testing, trust, and responsible innovation—and why better outcomes start with more voices at the table.Episode Transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hereFind us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

This month, host Mike Hrycyk is joined by Arash Taheri (Central One Credit Union) and DJ Sicoli-Khull (PLATO) for a deep dive into the evolving intersection of DevOps, automation, and artificial intelligence. The panel explores how DevOps has shifted from a culture-driven practice to a more integrated, platform-oriented ecosystem in which AI and automation are no longer optional but foundational. From the rise of platform engineering and DevSecOps to AI-assisted test selection and predictive pipelines, the conversation highlights how modern DevOps is becoming smarter, more adaptive, and increasingly developer-focused.Whether you're a DevOps practitioner, QA engineer, or technology leader, this episode offers practical insights into how automation and AI are reshaping software delivery, and what it takes to stay ahead.Episode Transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

What does it really mean to be a Test Lead? In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, host Mike Hrycyk sits down with experienced testing professionals Sal Bugliarisi (Accenture) and Bhavya Bhatnagar (PLATO) to draw on their real-world experience across projects and teams. The panel discusses how Test Leads influence testing strategy, guide communication across stakeholders, and help teams balance quality with delivery timelines. They also explore the leadership skills that make the biggest difference—from mentoring testers and managing risk to advocating for quality throughout the development lifecycle. Whether you're an aspiring Test Lead, a tester looking to grow into leadership, or a technology leader who wants to better understand the value of quality leadership, this conversation offers practical insights into how strong Test Leads help teams deliver better software.Episode Transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

In this special milestone episode, Mike Hrycyk sits down with Keith McIntosh (PLATO CEO and Co-Founder) and Denis Carignan (PLATO President and Co-Founder) to celebrate 10 years of Indigenous Software Tester Training. Together, they reflect on how the program began in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the vision behind its creation, and how it has grown into a national model for building Indigenous careers in technology. From early challenges and lessons learned to scaling workforce development across Canada, this conversation explores what it takes to create lasting impact in tech education.The episode also features reflections from members of the very first cohort, Kevin Jerome, Keisha Nguyen, and Matt Amos, sharing how the training shaped their careers and perspectives over the past decade. As PLATO continues recruiting for a new cohort in 2026, this 10-year reflection, with real-world insight from the leaders and graduates who helped shape the journey, looks back at what’s been achieved and forward to the future of Indigenous talent in Canada’s technology sector.Episode Transcript ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere — but how do organizations move beyond the hype and actually create value? This month, Mike Hrycyk is joined by Emma Heo (Lead for Public Service AI and Data at Accenture Canada) and Emily Cowperthwaite (COO at PLATO) for a practical, candid conversation about what AI really means for businesses today. Drawing from real-world experience at both a global enterprise and a growing technology services company, Emma and Emily share practical insight on how AI is being used today to improve productivity, streamline processes, and support better decision-making — along with honest discussion about how organizations can start small, build AI literacy, and responsibly experiment without losing sight of governance, trust, and business value and why AI success isn’t measured by the number of models deployed.Episode Transcript ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

Performance testing isn’t always required, but knowing when it is can make or break your product. In this episode, Mike Hrycyk and guests Ryan Hobbs (BC Pension Corp.) and Praneeth Eadara (PLATO) explore real criteria for deciding whether to invest in performance testing, what’s at risk if they decide to skip it, how to scope a first project, and what managers should consider before committing time and budget. Whether you’re a QA manager, developer, or business stakeholder, this panel will help you to understand the value (and limits) of performance testing – and how to plan for it long before peak load becomes a problem! Episode Transcript ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, we dive into real testing deadline stories – from last-minute showstoppers and gruelling manual regressions to automation breakthroughs, production outages, and rapid-fire pandemic response. These tales from PLATO testers reveal how teams adapt under pressure, make tough calls, and turn scheduling chaos into shared resilience and learning. If you’ve lived through your own unforgettable deadline or have a story that shaped your testing career, we’d love to hear from you. Connect with us on PLATO Testing's social media or on our website! Episode Transcript ⁠here⁠Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

The holiday rush isn’t just stressful for shoppers – it’s make-or-break for retailers. In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, Mike Hrycyk sits down with QA experts Susan Finley and Samta Kaura (PLATO) to unpack how teams prepare for holiday and Black Friday testing. They dive into the real risks of downtime, the importance of performance and functional testing, and why code freezes never quite hold. From managing last-minute patches to coordinating with third-party systems, the panel shares lessons learned from years in retail QA and offers tips for keeping sites stable when traffic and tension are at their peak. Episode Transcript hereFind us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/