PLATO Panel Talks

In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, host Mike Hrycyk is joined by Jesslyn Dymond (TELUS) and Jason Kicknosway (PLATO) to explore what it really takes to build trustworthy, responsible AI systems. From first-time AI testing to real-world implementation, Jason shares how PLATO testers learned to work with AI and how quickly they discovered the importance of nuance, prompting, and diverse perspecti...

This month, host Mike Hrycyk is joined by Arash Taheri (Central One Credit Union) and DJ Sicoli-Khull (PLATO) for a deep dive into the evolving intersection of DevOps, automation, and artificial intelligence. The panel explores how DevOps has shifted from a culture-driven practice to a more integrated, platform-oriented ecosystem in which AI and automation are no longer optional but foundational....

What does it really mean to be a Test Lead? In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, host Mike Hrycyk sits down with experienced testing professionals  Sal Bugliarisi  (Accenture) and Bhavya Bhatnagar (PLATO) to draw on their real-world experience across projects and teams. The panel discusses how Test Leads influence testing strategy, guide communication across stakeholders, and help teams balance q...

In this special milestone episode, Mike Hrycyk sits down with Keith McIntosh (PLATO CEO and Co-Founder) and Denis Carignan (PLATO President and Co-Founder) to celebrate 10 years of Indigenous Software Tester Training. Together, they reflect on how the program began in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the vision behind its creation, and how it has grown into a national model for building Indigenous care...

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere — but how do organizations move beyond the hype and actually create value? This month,  Mike Hrycyk  is joined by  Emma Heo  (Lead for Public Service AI and Data at Accenture Canada) and  Emily Cowperthwaite  (COO at PLATO) for a practical, candid conversation about what AI really means for businesses today.  Drawing from real-world experience at both a global...

Performance testing isn’t always required, but knowing when it is can make or break your product. In this episode,  Mike Hrycyk  and guests  Ryan Hobbs  (BC Pension Corp.) and  Praneeth Eadara  (PLATO) explore real criteria for deciding whether to invest in performance testing, what’s at risk if they decide to skip it, how to scope a first project, and what managers should consider before committi...

In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, we dive into real testing deadline stories – from last-minute showstoppers and gruelling manual regressions to automation breakthroughs, production outages, and rapid-fire pandemic response. These tales from PLATO testers reveal how teams adapt under pressure, make tough calls, and turn scheduling chaos into shared resilience and learning. If you’ve lived thro...

The holiday rush isn’t just stressful for shoppers – it’s make-or-break for retailers. In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, Mike Hrycyk sits down with QA experts Susan Finley and Samta Kaura (PLATO) to unpack how teams prepare for holiday and Black Friday testing.  They dive into the real risks of downtime, the importance of performance and functional testing, and why code freezes never quite hol...

Think your company’s too small to be hacked? Think again. Hackers don’t care how big you are, and our experts, Joel Vautour (PLATO) and Roberto Salgado (Websec), join Mike Hrycyk to break down how to get started with security testing. From PCI compliance to phishing scams, they share real-world insights on spotting vulnerabilities, choosing the right testing approach, and how AI is reshaping the c...

This month, host Mike Hrycyk sits down with QA experts Snehal Lohar (Slalom) and Richard Bird (PLATO) to talk all things test management tools Whether you're still using spreadsheets or navigating your way through ADO, qTest, TestRail, or Jira add-ons, this conversation covers why having the right tool matters – and how to make it work for your team. If you're evaluating tools or just want...

In today’s digital world, customer trust is everything, especially when money, data, and emotion are all on the line. In this episode, Mike Hrycyk is joined by Neha Batta (Director of Delivery Services at BCLC) and James Hurst (QA Manager at PLATO) to explore what it takes to build and maintain trust in the online gaming space. From the complexities of gaming compliance in Canada to the real-life...

Not sure how to kick off an accessibility testing project? Host Mike Hrycyk talks with Abhishek Gupta (Director of Service Delivery, PLATO) and Juan Olarte (CEO and co-founder, Digita11y Accessible) about where to begin, how to scope your efforts, what tools you’ll need, and how accessibility fits into your dev lifecycle. Whether you're just getting started or refining your process, this episode o...

Exclusive early access for our newsletter subscribers! In this ten-minute sneak peek from our upcoming PLATO Panel Talks episode, host Mike Hrycyk speaks with Abhishek Gupta (Director of Service Delivery, PLATO) and Juan Olarte (CEO, Digita11y Accessible) about what to do when your CEO says, “Get us accessible.” From gap analysis and legal requirements to internal training vs. hiring consultants,...

What’s it really like to test software on massive federal projects? In this episode, host Mike Hrycyk is joined by Scott Dillon (Associate Manager, PLATO) and Paul Schenk (Accenture) for a deep dive into the unique challenges and worthwhile wins of working on Federal Government projects. From navigating massive team structures and governance requirements to prioritizing accessibility and user cons...

Automation is evolving—are you keeping up? In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, host Mike Hrycyk is joined by Matt Heusser (Author & Lead Consultant, Excelon Development) and John McLaughlin (Test Automation Specialist, PLATO) to explore the future of next-generation automation testing tools. Together, they discuss what testing tools tell us about everything from the role of AI and machine le...

Are you maximizing your organization's potential use of consulting services? Join host Mike Hrycyk as he delves into the realities of effective consulting with industry experts Jamie Weber (National Director of IT and Business Consulting at PLATO) and Deidre Donaldson Meyer (Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at SGI). Together, they debunk misconceptions and reveal how consultants pro...

Join us for the exciting second part of our Growing Indigenous Tech series on PLATO Panel Talks. In this episode, we delve into the entrepreneurial journey of Indigenous tech founders with guest host  Ryan St. Germaine  (CEO and Founder of Indigenous Tech Circle). The panel is a dynamic discussion with guests  Bobbie Racette  (CEO & Founder of Virtual Gurus) and  Jayde Pelly  (Founder of JDP S...

This month, our host, Mike Hrycyk , explores the diverse perspectives and experiences of different generations of testers in the tech world. Joined by a panel of experts from the PLATO Team Nicole LeBlanc, Shawnee Polchis , and Brennan Nadeau , representing Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, we delve into the unique interactions and communication styles that arise from generational differences. From n...

In today’s fast-paced software development world, writing test cases is more important than ever. But what does writing test cases look like for the modern tester? How will AI and automation impact the way we write and execute test cases?  Mike Hrycyk  is joined by  Kevin Morgan  (Senior Manager, PLATO) and  Ryan Hobbs  (QA & Test Manager, BC Ferries) to bring together their extensive experien...

Are you a software tester looking to level up your skills and protect your organization from cyber threats? In this beginner's guide to cybersecurity, host Mike Hrycyk sits down with experts David Shipley (CEO, Beauceron Security ) and Joel Vautour (CSO, PLATO) to demystify the world of cybersecurity. Learn about the latest threats, discover how to stay ahead of the curve, and understand the criti...

Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion as we explore the intersection of technology and Indigenous leadership. Our guest host, Ryan St. Germaine (Founder, Indigenous Tech Circle ;  Executive in Residence, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners), leads a conversation with Jeff Ward (Founder & CEO of Animikii ), and Denis Carignan (President & C-Founder of PLATO), to discuss the role of...

Juniors are a critical part of building a high-performing software testing team, and this month's PLATO Panel Talks is here to explore how to leverage the potential of your whole team and create a thriving environment for growth! Our expert panel, featuring Nicole LeBlanc (Apprentice Manager, PLATO), and Jeff Peters (Chief Delivery Officer, PLATO), discuss the challenges, opportunities, and st...

QA teams new to automation: Get started on the right foot! Automation experts  Millan Kaul  (Engineering Manager(QA), Kablamo Canada) and  John McLaughlin  (Senior Automation Architect, PLATO) join our host,  Mike Hrycyk , this month and explain the 5 Ws (and an H!) of automation testing, helping you decide when, where, and how to automate for maximum impact. Learn how to free up your team and imp...

This month on PLATO Panel Talks get ready to dive deep into the world of data testing! Our host, Mike Hrycyk, chats with our data testing experts Chris Wagner (Director of Data Solutions, Baker Tilly) and Deepak Ankarath (QA Manager, PLATO), who share their insights on crucial skills for data tester, specific data testing challenges like big data and ETL transformations, and strategies for ensurin...

In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, Mike Hrycyk delves into Managed Services as an engagement model with our experts Craig Fisk (Chief Growth Officer, PLATO) and Paul Holland (Principal Consultant, PLATO). With his background in selling and delivering managed services, Craig explains why a wide range of reasons, from risk mitigation to access to a wider range of expertise, might drive companies...