Ankita Dawar

I attribute my success to the invaluable support and guidance of my parents: Neeru and Gulshan Dawar, who instilled in me the importance of being independent and staying open to continuous learning. From an early age, they encouraged me to think for myself, pursue my goals with confidence, and embrace challenges as opportunities to grow. Their unwavering belief in my potential gave me the strength to stay resilient and keep pushing forward, even during difficult times. Support of my siblings was equally important, they always believed in me and my decisions. I am also deeply grateful to my mentors, whose guidance laid a strong foundation for my career in Quality Assurance. While training by Mukesh Sharma (then CEO of QA InfoTech) or opportunity to work in USA by Saurabh Pandey and Ponna Armugum, I have been fortunate to work under they guidance. Their mentorship helped me not only grasp the core concepts of QA but also understand its crucial role in the software development life cycle. I learned how quality is not just about detecting bugs, but about ensuring a seamless, reliable experience for the end user. This perspective shaped the way I approach my work and helped me see QA as a key contributor to delivering value-driven, user-centric products. Their influence continues to guide me as I grow in this field.

The best career advice I ever received was "Done is better than perfect." At first, it sounded simple, but over time I realized just how powerful and transformative this mindset can be. In the professional world—especially in fast-paced environments—waiting for perfection can often lead to missed deadlines, stalled progress, and unnecessary pressure. This advice taught me to focus on delivering value consistently rather than getting stuck in a cycle of endless refinement. It helped me overcome the fear of imperfection and start prioritizing progress over procrastination. By shifting my mindset, I learned how to break large tasks into manageable pieces, iterate quickly, and keep moving forward. Striving for completion is important, but real growth happens when you take action, get feedback, and improve continuously. “Done is better than perfect” doesn't mean compromising on standards—it means understanding that momentum, accountability, and learning by doing are far more effective than chasing an unrealistic ideal of perfection.

One of the most important pieces of advice I would offer to young women entering the tech industry—or any demanding field—is to always aim to be independent, both financially and professionally. Independence isn’t just about earning a salary; it’s about having a voice, a choice, and the confidence to stand on your own in any situation. As women, we often find ourselves juggling many responsibilities—whether it’s caring for a child, supporting a family member, or meeting societal expectations—and it’s easy to feel the pressure to step back from our careers in order to keep things running smoothly at home. There will be moments when you feel like giving up your job or putting your ambitions on hold “for the sake of others.” And while it may come from a place of love or duty, I strongly encourage you to resist that urge, if possible. Even if you can’t commit to a full-time role, staying in the job market in some form—be it a part-time job, contract work, consulting, or freelancing—keeps you connected to your field. It ensures that you stay in touch with industry developments and tools, which is critical in fast-evolving spaces like tech and QA. You don’t need to be an expert in every tool that’s trending, but being familiar with them keeps your learning curve shallow and your confidence strong. Equally important is the commitment to ongoing learning. Your technical skills are the foundation, but it’s your soft skills—like clear communication, empathy, leadership, and negotiation—that will set you apart as you grow in your career. Make time to upskill, whether through courses, reading, hands-on practice, or simply learning from those around you. Learning should never stop, no matter your role or experience level. And perhaps one of the most empowering habits to build is to speak up and contribute, even when you’re the only woman in the room. Especially then. It can feel uncomfortable at times, but your voice matters. Your ideas, your observations, and your questions are just as valid as anyone else’s. Over time, you’ll realize that showing up fully and unapologetically is not only beneficial for your own growth but also paves the way for other women who come after you. So, don’t underestimate the power of staying in the game, of investing in yourself, and of making your presence felt. Every small step you take toward sustaining your career will pay off in ways you can’t always foresee right now—but your future self will thank you.

The QA field is at a pivotal point where both challenges and opportunities are deeply intertwined. One of the biggest challenges today is keeping up with the pace of modern software development—rapid releases, microservices, and continuous integration require highly efficient, scalable, and reliable testing strategies. Traditional manual testing alone can't meet these demands, pushing QA professionals to master automation, DevOps practices, and even AI-assisted testing. At the same time, this shift opens up exciting opportunities: QA is no longer just about finding bugs but about enabling faster, safer, and smarter delivery. Testers who evolve into quality engineers—focusing on building test frameworks, integrating quality early in the pipeline, and influencing product design—are becoming central to product success. With emerging technologies like AI/ML, blockchain, and cloud-native architectures, QA professionals have a unique chance to lead innovation in quality strategy, not just react to it.

The values that matter most to me—both in my work and personal life—are honesty, loyalty, hard work, and always giving my best in whatever I take up. I believe in being honest to my work, which means not just doing what is expected, but holding myself to a standard of integrity even when no one is watching. Whether it's a small task or a major project, I feel a strong responsibility to deliver with sincerity and transparency. Loyalty is another value I hold deeply. In the workplace, it means being committed to the team, the vision, and the people I work with, showing up with consistency and reliability. In personal life, loyalty translates to standing by my loved ones, supporting them through ups and downs, and nurturing relationships with care and trust. Hard work, to me, is a way of life. I don’t believe in shortcuts—if something matters, it deserves effort and dedication. Even when the journey is challenging, putting in the work not only shapes results but builds character. I’ve learned that hard work doesn’t just earn respect from others; it earns self-respect. And above all, I believe in giving my best—no matter the situation. Whether it’s a professional commitment, a family responsibility, or a personal goal, I try to give it my full energy, attention, and heart. To me, success is not always about perfection or outcomes, but about the intention and effort I put behind every action. These values ground me, guide my decisions, and define how I want to grow—as a professional, a parent, a partner, and a person.