Welcome to episode 27 of Inside The Outer Loop. In this episode, Rich Jordan and James Walker are joined by special guest Phil Royston, CEO & Founder of Tesena. Together, they discuss the evolution of quality engineering as a role and why continuous improvement is essential in the software testing industry. Phil Royston starts the conversation by sharing his journey into the testing and quality industry. He emphasizes the importance of mindset change and the shift from a tester-centric approach to a cross-functional, collaborative approach for quality engineering. The conversation explores the challenges of breaking down silos and the need for continuous improvement in the software testing industry. James and Rich explore the importance of soft skills in DevOps and testing, and the role of experts in teams. They also delve into the challenges faced by leaders and managers in quality engineering and the transition to non-hierarchical teams. Phil also brings up the concept of self-organisation, and the impact of culture on team dynamics. The conversation concludes with advice for newcomers in the industry starting their quality engineering journey. Listen to the full episode to learn more! Inside the outer loop – brought to you by the Curiosity Software team! Together with industry leaders and experts, we uncover actionable strategies to navigate the outer loop of software delivery, streamline test data management, and elevate software quality. Tune in to transform the way you think about software delivery, quality, and productivity!