How Motherhood Made Me a Better QA Manager - Žaklina Polak Matanović

🚨 Are we actually testing too much sometimes? Just because we run a lot of tests doesn’t mean we’ll find a lot of bugs. Here’s how we can solve this: Free Online Workshop

"If something is obvious to you, it does not mean that it's obvious to someone else." - Žaklina Polak Matanović

In this episode, I talk with Žaklina Polak Matanović, an experienced QA manager who discovered that raising three daughters taught her more about software testing than most training courses ever could. She shares concrete stories about how skills like clear ownership assignment, prioritization under pressure, and proactive thinking emerged naturally from parenting chaos – from navigating playgrounds with toddler twins to managing ambiguous requests at home. What makes this conversation powerful is Žaklina's honest reflection on returning to tech after maternity leave, initially doubting her career trajectory while others seemed to advance, only to realize the soft skills in software testing she'd been building at home became her greatest professional assets for achieving work life balance in tech.

Žaklina Polak Matanović is a seasoned QA professional with over 20 years of experience in software quality assurance, test and release management, and software development. She enjoys working in international environments and takes a structured, collaborative approach to delivering high-quality software. Outside of work, she is a passionate salsa dancer, chorus singer, and a curious explorer at heart—whether she is sailing, skiing, biking, or capturing moments through photography. She loves traveling and being near the sea or snow, and these adventures inspire both her personal and professional life.

Highlights:

• Parenting skills transfer directly to testing: prioritization, clear ownership assignment, and proactive thinking prevent chaos.
• Ambiguous tickets without clear ownership stay unresolved forever; be specific about who does what.
• Under pressure, save the thing in greatest danger first—prioritize ruthlessly and communicate your limits.
• Being detailed and asking many questions isn't annoying; it's a professional strength in testing environments.
• Patience and inclusivity aren't soft skills—they're essential for letting quiet team members contribute equally.