From Bugs to Strategy: A 25-Year Journey of Growth and Leadership

Agenda:
5:45PM - Registrations & Networking
6:15PM - Introduction & Icebreaker
6:30PM - Gala Durand's session on "From Bugs to Strategy: A 25-Year Journey of Growth and Leadership"
7:30PM - Group photo and networking

Session Information:
From Bugs to Strategy: A 25-Year Journey of Growth and Leadership
Insights on evolving roles, building resilient teams, and leading with purpose in a transforming industry

About the talk:
Join Gala Durand as she shares her 25-year journey—from bug-hunting tester to Director of Quality Assurance at Ateko, a company backed by Bell Canada. In this engaging talk, Gala reflects on the evolution of QA: from tactical execution to strategic influence, and what that shift means for professionals navigating today’s fast-paced tech landscape. Through personal stories and practical insights, she’ll explore how to build resilient QA teams, support career growth, and lead with purpose in an industry that’s constantly reinventing itself.

About the speaker:
Gala Durand, Director of Quality Assurance at Ateko, backed by Bell Canada

Peruvian-born and Montreal-raised, Gala Durand is the Director of Quality Assurance at Ateko, backed by Bell Canada. With 25 years of experience in software quality assurance and 4 years in leadership, she is dedicated to building resilient teams, mentoring professionals, and fostering a culture of excellence—both within Ateko and across the organizations she supports.
Follow Gala on LinkedIn

Née au Pérou et élevée à Montréal, Gala Durand est Directrice de l’Assurance Qualité chez Ateko, propulsé par Bell Canada. Forte de 25 ans d’expérience en assurance qualité logicielle et de 4 années en leadership, elle se consacre à la création d’équipes résilientes, au mentorat de professionnels, et à la promotion d’une culture d’excellence—tant au sein d’Ateko que dans les organisations qu’elle accompagne.