Mary Pombares

I attribute my success to perseverance and resilience. Over the course of my career, I’ve faced some of the lowest moments one can experience in the workplace—layoffs, difficult transitions, and having to start over in different industries and roles. There have also been times when my voice or presence was questioned. Early on, I dealt with significant self-doubt, and even now, imposter syndrome still creeps in from time to time.

What’s defined my journey is how I’ve responded. No matter the setback, I’ve made the decision to keep going—to adapt, to stay relevant, and to continue growing as a leader. I’ve consistently stepped into new environments, learned quickly, and found ways to add value, even when it meant rebuilding from the ground up.

For me, perseverance isn’t just personal—it’s purposeful. It’s about continuing to lead, to evolve, and to help pave the way for the next generation. I want others to see that even when you have to start over, you can still rise, lead, and create lasting impact.

The best career advice I received was from a Female Leader who mentored me earlier in my career who taught me to carry myself toward the position I wanted to be in. Since my parents weren't here to guide me, she helped me understand how to present myself professionally. I was young and very fashionable back then, and sometimes I would wear things that probably weren't appropriate for work. She guided me on how to carry myself professionally, which really shaped how I was seen in the corporate world. That advice about having executive presence at an earlier age helped me tremendously. Now when you see me, I'm always in suits and dressing very corporate, and I believe that professional presence has been important throughout my career.

My advice would be to never give up and to stay committed to your path. You will face challenges—there may be moments where you’re in rooms and feel like you don’t belong, or where others question your skills, your presence, or your readiness. That’s part of the journey.

What matters is that you believe in yourself and keep going. There will be times when doubt creeps in—I’ve experienced imposter syndrome and moments where I was questioned—but I made the decision to stay in the game, to keep growing, and to continue pursuing opportunities.

It’s also important to remember that your presence matters. Representation matters. When you stay, grow, and lead, you’re not just building your own career—you’re helping create visibility and opportunity for the next generation of women coming behind you.

So stay resilient, keep showing up, and don’t let temporary challenges take you off a long-term path you’ve worked hard to build.

The biggest challenges in Quality Engineering right now are centered around AI transformation and the rapidly expanding landscape of tools. There’s a significant push to incorporate AI into testing—whether it’s for test generation, automation, or predictive quality—but many organizations are still figuring out how to use it effectively and responsibly. It’s not just about adopting AI, it’s about integrating it in a way that truly improves quality without adding unnecessary complexity.

At the same time, there are more tools available than ever before. While that creates flexibility, it can also lead to fragmentation, inconsistency, and inefficiencies if there isn’t a clear strategy. Teams can easily end up over-tooled without fully leveraging the capabilities of what they already have.

That said, these challenges create strong opportunities. Organizations that can be intentional—selecting the right tools, simplifying their ecosystem, and leveraging AI in a meaningful way—have a real advantage. It allows Quality Engineering to become more predictive, more efficient, and more aligned with business outcomes.

The values that matter most to me are perseverance, integrity, and a strong commitment to people. Perseverance has been a constant throughout my life, but what truly grounds me is how I treat others along the way.

I believe in leading with respect, empathy, and authenticity. For me, success is never about advancing at the expense of someone else. It’s about building people up, creating environments where others feel valued, and ensuring that feedback and leadership are delivered in a way that is constructive and supportive.

In both my professional and personal life, I try to stay rooted in my faith and in the principle of putting people first. No matter how much technology evolves—whether it’s AI or any other innovation—I believe the human element is what truly drives success. Strong relationships, trust, and respect are what sustain teams and organizations.

At the end of the day, I value meaningful connections—whether it’s with colleagues, friends, or family. That perspective keeps me grounded and shapes the kind of leader and person I strive to be.