Author: Mensah Korkor

I’m so excited to share a piece of my story with you: how I made my way into Software Quality Assurance (QA), climbed the career ladder, and stepped into leadership… all without a Computer Science degree!  

Today, I work as a QA Manager at a Pan-African tech company, supporting over 30 countries and leading a brilliant team of seven testers. And recently, I received the absolute honour of being invited to speak at the National Software Testing Conference in London. But let me tell you, this journey wasn’t a straight line. 

Finding My Footing in QA 

To be honest, I didn’t start in tech. I came from a non-technical background, like so many others who thought tech might be “too far off” or “too complex” to get into. 

First, I do not hold any fancy computer science degree, and the reason I was able to pivot into the Tech space is because of my non-traditional computer science background and not despite it.  

So how it started for me was, even though I work in a tech company, I wasn’t into core IT like cloud engineering, AIOPS, databases, applications and network engineering. But 7 years ago, this all changed when I had to suddenly switch teams and joined the testing team without initially understanding what software testing was all about. Over time, I leaned into self-study, and eventually I decided to formalise my interest and earned my ISTQB Foundation Certificate. That changed everything!  It gave me structure and confidence, and I began to see that this was more than a job; this was my space. 

Stepping Onto the Stage: National Software Testing Conference 

Fast forward to today, and I still can’t believe I’m saying this: I’ll be speaking at the National Software Testing Conference in London this July!  

My talk is called:
“Navigating QA:  Excelling in Software Testing Without a Traditional IT Background”. 

I’ll be sharing: My path into QA;
The roadblocks I faced;
And how I navigated my way through tech, one learning step at a time. 

This talk is for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider in the tech space. I want to remind people: you DO belong. Your path doesn’t need to look like everyone else’s to matter. 

Bridging the Skills Gap & Building Credibility 

Let’s be real… walking into tech without a CS degree can be intimidating. I felt that. 

But here’s what helped me bridge that gap: 

I made learning a priority: Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, YouTube, you name it!
I shadowed devs, asked lots of questions, and said “yes” to projects that pushed me.
I stayed consistent: testing, documenting, automating, and improving. 

But beyond the tech, I built trust. I showed up. I delivered. I became someone who communicated, simplified complex testing steps, and helped teams work smarter. That’s how I gained credibility, not just by knowing things, but by applying what I knew in a way that mattered. 

Challenges Along the Way 

I’d love to say it’s been a smooth ride, but let’s keep it real, it hasn’t. 

One of the hardest parts was breaking the stereotype that QA is “less technical” or “less important” than development. Early in my career, I had to constantly advocate for the value of QA; not just as a box-ticking phase, but as a critical part of delivering products that customers and users love. 

And then came the leadership leap. Managing a team meant learning how to mentor, how to motivate, and how to align QA with business goals. I made mistakes, asked for help, and leaned into growth. Leadership isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about creating space for others to thrive.  

Transferable Skills 

What surprised me the most? How much my non-tech background helped me in tech! 

Communication, empathy, problem-solving and time management. 

These soft skills made me a better tester and a better leader. I could talk to both business teams and devs. I understood the importance of clear documentation and stakeholder alignment. And I wasn’t afraid to challenge the status quo if it meant improving quality. 

So, if you’ve got a background in teaching, customer service, admin, or anything else, trust me, you already have skills that matter in QA. 

Advice for Aspiring Testers Without a Tech Background 

If you’re dreaming of a QA role but don’t have a Computer Science degree, let me leave you with a few heartfelt tips: 

Be curious: ask “why” and “how”
Get certified (ISTQB is a great start!)
Be hands-on: get your hands dirty with manual testing by practising testing with real apps before jumping into test automation. 

Use your strengths: soft skills go a long way. 

Share your journey:  LinkedIn, virtual and physical meetups, write blogs; let people see your passion
Stay confident and humble; you belong here.

Final Thoughts 

Today, I’m not just a QA professional. I’m a mentor. A leader. A speaker. And most importantly, I’m proof that you don’t have to follow the “traditional” tech path to make an impact. 

If you’re heading to the conference in London, please come and say hi!  I’d love to hear your story, too. And if you’re navigating your way into QA, feel free to connect; I’m always happy to chat, support, or just cheer you on. 

Let’s continue learning, growing, and breaking barriers together! 

For media enquiries, please get in touch with vaishnavi.nashte@testassociates.co.uk