Women in Testing Meetup at Celfocus explores AI’s impact on women

|---Module:text|Size:Small---| On October 26, Celfocus welcomed the Women in Testing Meetup at its headquarters in Lisbon. Organised by ISTQB® (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) in partnership with PSTQB (Portuguese Software Testing and Qualifications Board), the event brought together more than 50 participants (from Portugal, Brazil, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Mauritius, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, South Africa, and the United Kingdom) for an open conversation on the challenges women face in an IT industry that is still largely male-dominated and is now being reshaped by Artificial Intelligence.

As AI changes how we work, the skills we need and the opportunities ahead, the meetup set out to answer a pressing question: how can women continue to shape the future of the industry, rather than simply adapt to it? Throughout the evening, speakers and attendees shared perspectives, challenged assumptions and discussed the emerging challenges and opportunities that AI brings to women working in technology.

The session featured an inspiring panel of industry experts, including Sofia Esteves, Executive Director of Data & Analytics Solutions at Celfocus, alongside Klaudia Dussa-Zieger, President of ISTQB; Ana Marques, President of PSTQB; Bruna Santos, QA Test Lead at Devoteam; Lina Kulakova, Head of QA at DSwiss AG; and Liliana Pereira, Geek Girls Portugal Ambassador.

|---Module:testimony|Size:Small|Name:Sofia Esteves|Position: Executive Director of Data & Analytics Solutions|Company:Celfocus---|AI is reshaping the future of work across industries, creating new opportunities, challenges and demands for new skills. Embracing this transformation requires adaptability and a willingness to evolve, allowing us to harness AI as an amplifier of human capabilities rather than a threat.”

|---Module:text|Size:Small---| The meetup reflects Celfocus’s commitment to equal career opportunities in technology and to fostering open dialogue on the impact of AI, a strategic focus for the company as it continues to help organisations turn data and AI into real business value.