Prashant Hegde is a seasoned testing leader with over a decade of expertise in software testing. As QA Head at
MoEngage, a pioneering customer engagement platform, he drives quality engineering excellence to deliver
exceptional customer experiences. A sought-after speaker, Prashant inspires global audiences at software testing
conferences, sharing actionable insights and expertise. With 50+ published articles, he's a respected thought
leader in the testing community. Prashant prioritizes knowledge sharing, empowering others to succeed.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prazhegde/
Blog:https://www.prashanthegde.biz/articles
Website: https://www.prashanthegde.biz/
PROLOGUE - GAMES OVER GRADES
Prashant Hegde, a respected international speaker, prolific writer, and inspirational leader, was a vastly different individual during his college years. Prashant was the classic backbencher, always finding ways to have fun and evade studies. His college mantra? "Games over grades." Prashant's passion for gaming knew no bounds, with
Counter-Strike being his go-to game. He spent countless hours mastering strategies, conquering virtual battlegrounds.
Academically, Prashant's 12th-grade performance suffered, with gaming and friendships taking priority. This had lasting consequences. Although he rebounded in engineering, finding balance, the past caught up with him. Missing the aggregate cutoff due to his 12th-grade grades closed doors to on-campus job opportunities.
Prashant's academic record showed contrasting fortunes: good marks in engineering, but humble 12th scores. Prashant struggled to get a single interview as his classmates celebrated multiple job offers. Upon graduation, Prashant faced a bleak reality: no job offers, and no backup plan. no clear direction.
PRIORITIZE WISELY, AS CHOICES HAVE LASTING CONSEQUENCES.
YOUR CHOICES TODAY CRAFT THE STORY OF YOUR TOMORROW.
CHAPTER 1 - BATTLING THE SELF DOUBT
Prashant encountered criticism, skepticism, and doubt from those around him, eroding his self-confidence. Prashant's future remained uncertain. Personal struggles intensified. Prashant discovered a software testing course in Bangalore, seeing it as a potential gateway to a job. Software testing was just a brief chapter in his engineering curriculum. He had limited knowledge of software testing and its career prospects. With uncertainty looming and a pressing need for a job, he made a bold move. Prashant made Bangalore his new home, signed up for the course, immersed himself in software testing, and started looking for jobs.
While few offered concrete help, there was no shortage of free advice. Many discouraged him from pursuing software testing, as they believed it was a stagnant field with little room for growth. Widespread misconceptions about software testing daunted him. Some advised Prashant to explore alternative careers, while others
suggested pursuing a master's degree. His career struggles had begun to seep into his personal life, testing their resilience. Prashant faced a battle within. Prashant's mind wrestled with desperation for a job, personal issues, and skepticism about software testing as a career.
Prashant strongly believed that success follows when you pour your heart into your work. Any job done exceptionally can lead to greatness. Defying naysayers and personal doubts, He embarked on a software testing career. His journey hit a speed bump with repeated interview rejections. Self-doubt crept in and rejections
momentarily slowed him down. But Prashant was anti-fragile - Adversity became his ally, and he got better with every interview he gave. He learned from his mistakes and leveraged feedback to improve. Mistakes became valuable lessons, and feedback turned into fuel for improvement. Following a period of perseverance, Prashant
finally secured his first job.
PERSIST, BELIEVE, AND RISE.
MAKE ADVERSITY YOUR CATALYST FOR GROWTH.
CHAPTER 2 - DISTRACTION TO DESTINY
GUESS WHAT WAS PRASHANT’S FIRST JOB? - A GAME TESTER!!
Prashant was called for a job interview that needed knowledge in testing and expertise in gaming. He aced the interview. Life came full circle for Prashant as his passion for gaming, once a distraction, became his profession, landing him his first job as a game tester. Prashant gained valuable skills and experience as a game tester.
Prashant got the opportunity to test iconic anime titles on PS3, X360, and other leading consoles. The seemingly dream job: game testing - quickly revealed its downside. The job offered low pay, less growth, no benefits, and more importantly lack of job security. Just six months after starting his career, Prashant found himself facing job instability, bringing back memories of advice against a career in testing.
Like most testers, Prashant was an accidental tester. Whether intentional or accidental, did not matter to him anymore. He had developed a love for the craft. He chose to pursue testing wholeheartedly. Prashant evolved his testing and automation skills. He moved from games to web and mobile applications. Prashant swiftly regained
momentum by joining innovative startups in the next phase of his career. Taking ownership early in his career helped him grow. Prashant excelled at seizing opportunities. He led initiatives and delivered outstanding outcomes wherever he worked. This helped him achieve early career success and ascend to leadership.
Prashant took on big projects and delivered excellent results. Prashant recalls the early years of his career with late-night office stays and overnighters for high-stakes releases, but now cautions youngsters to prioritize health alongside work. He brought out the best in his teams by leveraging his leadership skills. Prashant went on to build
a solid reputation becoming a successful leader. Prashant showcased his versatility by taking on diverse roles. Prashant wore multiple hats and served as a Tester, Scrum Master, Project Manager, and Product Owner, adapting to business needs.
Prashant started blogging to share his thoughts and ideas. His writing emerged as a natural extension of his growth, driven by a desire to share his insights and expertise with others. Little did he know that this would unlock doors to a plethora of new possibilities and global recognition.
ACT- ADAPT, CONTINUOUSLY LEARN, THRIVE
CHAPTER 3 - THE TEST OF LEADERSHIP
With a legacy of driving testing excellence in his past organization, Prashant joined MoEngage in 2017. Prashant was about to face the toughest challenge in his career. His journey at MoEngage began amidst the chaos with a struggling team plagued by exits, demotivation, and disorder. Testing practices and processes were subpar,
products were not up to the mark. The testers lacked credibility and respect. His leadership and testing expertise were crucial in navigating this critical juncture as the team was on the brink of a collapse. As Prashant struggled to revive the testing unit, he faced discouragement from within. Some insiders suggested that he abandon the
ship in the first few weeks of joining MoEngage. He heard the whispers: "Leave now, while you still can." Despite having other options on the table, Prashant chose to stay as he valued his relationships with leaders and the trust they had in him.
This ultimate test of leadership required Prashant to draw on his resilience, strategic thinking, and people-centric approach. Prashant took up the monumental task: of rebuilding MoEngage's testing team from the ground up with a new squad of freshers. Parallely, establishing robust processes, and instilling a culture of testing excellence. Prashant’s leadership approach emphasized influence, communication, and empathy (ICE).
Prashant believes in leading by example, walking the talk, and inspiring others. Prashant excelled as both a leader and individual contributor, juggling dual roles. As a leader, he focused on creating a psychologically safe environment for his team members to experiment and innovate. Prashant brought in new perspectives and several innovative practices to improve testing efficiency and effectiveness. Prashant championed testers' value showcasing their crucial role to stakeholders through their work. Prashant changed perceptions about testing and testers. Prashant created an environment where testers are valued and respected, ultimately contributing to better software and more effective teams.
He empowered his team to make decisions on their own. Prashant gave them autonomy while maintaining authority. He did not act as a manager but as a mentor to his team. Instead of giving orders, he coached the team and led them to act independently. He enabled his team members to grow by assigning them challenging tasks and training them on the required skills to further their development. Prashant's leadership approach, centered on genuine concern for team members' growth and well-being, yielded exceptional performance. He transformed freshers into confident testing professionals. As engineering expanded, Prashant strategically scaled the team. MoEngage's testing team flourished under Prashant's leadership, transforming the testing team into a high-performing unit. Prashant's impact at MoEngage was far-reaching, as he introduced various initiatives that transcended QA, influencing many engineering practices and earning recognition and respect across MoEngage. Prashant’s entry-level recruits rose through the ranks to become QA leads. Prashant's tenure at MoEngage has been a defining chapter in his leadership journey, and he's deeply indebted to the organization and its leaders for their guidance, trust, and unwavering support. Prashant shares a strong bond with his team beyond work built on
mutual trust, and respect. Prashant has earned the respect of his team members for making a lasting impact on their careers.
TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP REQUIRES EMPATHY, TRUST, INNOVATION, AND INVESTING IN PEOPLE.
EPILOGUE - GLOBAL RECOGNITION
This chapter encompasses the period before and during his MoEngage journey.
Prashant wrote his first article about leveraging mindmaps in software testing. Prashant's innovative approach to leveraging mind maps in software testing resonated with audiences. His well-crafted article sparked meaningful conversations. This encouraged Prashant to write more. Prashant began his writing ideas on his blog, gradually expanding to guest blogging. His growing reputation soon led to paid writing opportunities. While establishing himself as a blogger, Prashant started transforming his articles into engaging talks. Prashant made a remarkable debut, securing a speaking spot at an international conference on his first attempt, paving the way for future global engagements. Prashant started collaborating with software testing communities, engaging in various initiatives, and promoting knowledge sharing. Prashant Hegde emerged as a speaker in the software testing sphere, regularly addressing conferences, meetups, webinars, and industry forums. Prashant's testing excellence was recognized through several prestigious awards and competition wins. He developed a strong online footprint and built a compelling personal brand. As a mentor, Prashant paved the way for numerous individuals to launch their testing careers.
Prashant's family played a vital role in his success. Prashant's wife's support and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping his ambitious mindset. Prashant's wife taught him to aim high and never settle for less. Prashant's wife took on additional responsibilities from taking care of their children to the household, giving him the time and space needed to focus. Prashant's mother taught him to Go the extra mile, a lesson he's carried into his professional life. He always strives to surpass expectations, a principle that has driven him to success. His father’s influence helped him develop a strong moral compass. His father instilled integrity, empathy, and authenticity in him. Prashant has used these skills throughout his career, building strong relationships with his colleagues and customers. His commitment to these values has been the foundation of his success.
Prashant continues to challenge himself to reach new heights, and he is always looking for new ways to improve the lives of those around him. He has set a good example for others to follow, and his work has had a lasting positive impact on his community. It is not the end of Prashant's journey, it is just the beginning. Through his talks, writings, and community initiatives Prashant continues to inspire. He is determined to achieve even greater success. From uncertain college days to global success, Prashant’s story inspires, demonstrating resilience and determination.
FOLLOW PRASHANT
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prazhegde/
Website: https://www.prashanthegde.biz/
Picture credits - MetaAI,ChatGPT
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