Want to learn more about QA – or what it means to be a SCRUM Master? Metova QA Platform Lead, Satinder Saini, gives us the answers – as well as detail on life in India vs Conway, her volunteer work, what movies or shows to watch – and why you might want to consider taking family night drives in your pajamas…. below.
Can you give some detail on your work and duties at Metova?
I joined Metova as QA Engineer and then was promoted to QA Platform Lead. In addition to all QA responsibilities which includes, writing Test cases, generating Test results, Testing etc, I also perform Platform Lead responsibilities which includes reviewing projects, managing the team and more. I also mentor our interns and QA apprentices. I’ve also conducted Scrum training and initiated the Scrum process and worked as Scrum master.
What does it mean to be SCRUM Master certified?
SCRUM is a framework that allows a team to address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value.
The SCRUM certification process provides candidates with an understanding of SCRUM values, which emphasize teamwork, accountability and iterative progress toward a well-defined goal.
Can you explain why QA is important?
QA is a necessity because we all make mistakes. More often it is because of incomplete documentation or gaps in software architecture which lead to unexpected behavior of the product. Some of them can be insignificant, as well as the others can be crucial! That’s why every product needs verification, quality assurance before it can be released and safely used.
You grew up in a town near New Delhi, India – can you provide some detail or interesting facts about this area?
I was born and brought up in Ambala, also called Umbala city, in the northern Haryana state, located in northwestern India. It has a large Indian Army and Indian Air Force presence within its cantonment area.
Ambala is known for its cloth market all over India. It’s a somewhat small city like Little Rock – but with more population. Medical, management and engineering colleges are in the city, and there are all kinds of schools that offer advanced education.
Is QA different in India than in the US?
I would say overall it’s all the same but in India it’s very formal. All the processes, documentations and tools are strictly followed.
Are there any foods or dishes from India that you can not find here?
There are a lot of dishes which I miss, especially authentic Indian food. I tried typical Indian food once in California and I can say that was little close to what we actually get in India. Here we do have Indian restaurants, but it’s more of a modified Indian American kind of food.
You now live near Metova’s headquarters in Conway Arkansas, what are some differences, and similarities between Arkansas and your hometown in India.
When I first moved here after getting married, this was the biggest relief that Conway is a small, quiet place and mostly everything is available within a couple of miles range – which is exactly the same in my hometown. People know you and you have time for yourself and your family. Although my hometown has way more population and area wise is bigger than Conway and Little Rock – it’s still considered as small compared to other places in India.
I remember when I stayed in California on an official trip for 2 months, that experience was not good. It was the same as New Delhi – super busy, crowded and traffic.
Differences: Overall restaurants close by 8 or at the max 9pm here in Conway. In India, dinner usually starts at 8 or 9 pm, and all restaurants are open until 11pm or midnight. That part I surely miss – other than my family.
Honking is very common in India. But I hardly have seen anyone honk here. But again when I was in California, then sometimes I felt I was in India , people did honk there a lot.
Once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, what are some areas or countries you would like to visit?
First I will visit India as I have not been back since moving here. It’s been almost 12 years since I have seen my family and my kids have not been to India yet. So I am looking forward to that adventure and to see how they react. Once that is done, then I want to visit Europe,and hopefully other countries too.
Many of us feel like we have watched everything there is to watch during the pandemic – Do you have any recommendations for Netflix movies or series?
We love watching TV series, movies. That’s the best part of my day. I always wait for it. As soon as my kids go to bed by 8pm, I love to watch TV for an hour or so. It’s a great way to relax.
I usually enjoy everything I watch. But some series I remember right now on top of my head are Money Heist, Queen Gambit, Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Sherlock Holmes – the British one with Benedict Cumberbatch – Taken, BlackList and there are more. I love watching movies too.
What about dancing – you’ve participated in a dance/clogging group correct?
Yes I have, In fact I tried to do a couple of things to keep myself busy and give back to the community. I was on a clogging team and had performed in the Toad Suck Fair. We also performed in some senior nursing homes.
I also volunteered to help and visit senior citizens as their family members, because no one from their family visited them. It was so nice to see smiles on their faces and every time they have stories to share and they will call me with their daughter’s name or sometimes think I am their old friend who came to visit. I am not getting time to do all this now as my kids are very young. I’m looking forward to learning other forms of dancing and volunteering to help people.
In this pandemic, with most of the family members at home, either working from home or kids virtual schooling, It’s very hard to entertain and relax. What we used to do, and still do sometimes, especially Fridays and Saturdays, at night before the kids go to bed, we all go for a 15-30 mins drive in pajamas with nice music turned on. I feel this is also one of the best ways to relax.
