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Dilruba Malik
Software QA Manager
Palo Alto Networks
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We need to be persistent & we have to be fearless for asking for support.
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WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am a Software QA Manager with over 15 yearsof experience in hands-on end-to-end software testing, leading and managing manual and automation engineering teams, and delivering quality products on time and within budget. I have worked for world-class software companies including Microsoft, Cisco, Hitachi, and Palo Alto Networks.
I lead a highly successful QA organization of QA Engineers by assuming complete responsibility for the quality and reliability of IoT Security Application as well as overall release management.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS FIELD?
I choose Quality Assurance by chance. After graduation with an Electrical Engineering degree from Georgia Tech, my first job was in Quality Assurance. I fell in love with this field ever since. This is like solving a mystery. Once Developers claim their code is ready to ship, QA engineers figure out any possible loophole with the software. Negative testing, edge testing, boundary testing, regression testing, performance testing, and stress testing to name a few. All of these testings gave different perspectives to look at the same piece of code. Overall, QA is the glue between the product management expectation and development to deliver the best quality product.
HOW DO/DID YOU TACKLE OBSTACLES?
I'm from a very rural area of Bangladesh. When my family migrated from Bangladesh, I did not even speak English.
I've started working various odd jobs to support my family. I've worked day and night to make ends meet and, at the same time, graduated from Georgia Tech with an Electrical Engineering degree. It was not an easy task. I've learned to inspire myself by looking at the positive sides of life. Always told myself, if I reach this step lots of opportunities will be available to reach the next level.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT & THINK, "I WISH YOUNGER ME WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS POSSIBLE?"
If I could go back in time, I would have done a few things differently. First and foremost is voicing & sharing my own opinion being fearless from an early age. I always hid my stories and never shared my challenges. I thought these were only my problems. Later in my career, I figured out most of the problems all women have are pretty similar.
WHY DO YOU LOVE WORKING IN STEM?
Being a woman in technology has its perks. I can be part of a positive impact on the industry. It’s exciting to see how my small moves help the organization for achieving its goal. I love seeing the quantifiable results of the projects that I and the team worked on. It helps to build my professional confidence.
BEST ADVICE FOR NEXT GENERATION?
The ability to execute is important, however, I feel asking for support is far more important for women. We need to be persistent, we have to be fearless for asking for support as we need to be a success in our goals.
INSPIRATION
"Achievement happens when we pursue and attain what we want. Success comes when we are in clear pursuit of why we want it."
Simon Sinek