Melissa Tondi: Find your community!

Melissa Tondi is the Director of Technology Enablement at Campminder, a Principal at Disrupt Testing, and a frequent speaker at various conferences, with over 20 years of experience in the testing industry. “I think that a detail-oriented mindset as well as being very curious are the things that made me excel and find a home in software testing” - Melissa reflects on her journey from being highly detail-oriented to discovering the importance of curiosity in modern software development. She explains how balancing these two traits helped her find success in software testing more than 20 years ago. We also explore the concept of company culture, what it really means, how it forms organically through collaboration, and why leaders must ensure that the culture they envision aligns with what their teams are creating.  Another key topic is the 80/20 rule: dedicating 80% of time to company work and 20% to innovation and personal development. Melissa discusses how this framework fosters creativity and efficiency across industries, ensuring that everyone, regardless of role, has space to grow. Additionally, Melissa also touches on the idea of emergent leadership, how natural leaders surface within teams, even if they aren’t formally in leadership roles. Finally, Melissa encourages listeners to “find their community” and stay connected with like-minded individuals who support and inspire growth. Listen to the entire podcast to hear Melissa’s invaluable insights on leadership, culture, and innovation in the tech world! Our host is Alex Mocioi, a professional with 20 years of experience in software engineering and 10 years of experience in tech training. Shift Happens podcast is supported this season by Mindera - Romania, leader in software development.