In this edition of Team Talk, we’re introducing Ana Fürst, a Quality Assurance (QA) Lead Engineer, whose journey with the company began during her student years. With a background in mathematics and hands-on experience across multiple projects, Ana has grown into a seasoned QA professional who understands both the details and the bigger picture. In this conversation, Ana shares her path from student to lead role, how she sees the responsibility of QA leadership, and the experiences that shaped her along the way.
1. Ana, can you take us back to your early days at Comtrade Gaming? How did your journey start and how did your role evolve over time?
When I joined Comtrade Gaming, I was exploring different career paths after completing my diploma and looking for a more technical, challenging environment. A university classmate who was already working at Comtrade encouraged me to apply for an open student position in QA, and the idea of testing casino systems and games immediately caught my interest.
Two days later, I was already in my first phone interview, and that’s how it all began.
There was a lot to discover in the beginning, and the system offered many layers to understand, which made the whole experience engaging from the start. But the more I discovered, the more I realized QA truly matched my strengths. It’s technical, dynamic, and constantly evolving. I enjoy digging into system logic, understanding how things work behind the scenes, and spotting details others might miss.
I’m naturally very detail-oriented, so QA turned out to be the perfect place to channel that energy productively. And the best part? It never gets boring.
2. You studied mathematics before joining Comtrade Gaming. How has that background influenced the way you approach QA and problem-solving today?
Studying mathematics was both diverse and intellectually stimulating. We did a lot of coding in different programming languages, worked with databases, and used those tools to solve complex problems. That background helps me a lot in my work today.
It makes it easier to understand code, application logic, and read logs effectively. Because of that, I can often identify bugs more precisely and get to the root cause of an issue faster. Beyond the technical skills, mathematics also strengthened my logical thinking and analytical mindset, both of which are essential in QA.
Before I “accidentally” landed at Comtrade, I didn’t even know QA was a profession. I was somewhat interested in programming, but I didn’t fully see myself as a developer. QA turned out to be the perfect balance for me. It combines technical understanding, structured problem-solving, attention to detail, and communication. In a way, it allowed me to connect several areas I was interested in, without having to choose just one.
3. For someone who’s not familiar with the role: how would you describe what a QA Lead Engineer actually does?
Besides testing, a QA Lead is responsible for organizing and planning the entire testing process. That means defining priorities, distributing tasks within the team, coordinating with clients, and aligning internally with project managers and other leads.
I also take care of test documentation, look for tools that can improve our workflows, and adjust testing focus based on market specifics. Quality isn’t just about finding bugs; it’s about understanding the bigger picture and making sure the product is truly ready for users.
Compared to a QA Engineer role, there’s much less hands-on testing and a lot more communication, coordination, and responsibility. A big part of my job is deciding when something is “good enough” to go live, and that’s not always an easy call.
The most challenging part is balancing perfection with deadlines. There’s always room for improvement, but at some point, you have to make a decision. What I find most rewarding is continuously deepening my expertise and collaborating with different teams, it keeps the role dynamic and meaningful.
4. You’ve worked on many projects during your time at Comtrade Gaming. Is there a project or moment that especially stayed with you?
At the beginning of my career, the hardest thing for me wasn’t the technical part, it was asking questions. You often hear, “Ask when you don’t know something,” but when you see how busy everyone around you is, it’s not always easy to be the one interrupting. Luckily, my first mentor helped me overcome that mindset and reminded me that there’s no such thing as a stupid question. I’m still very grateful for that support.
Professionally, the most challenging moments are always bugs discovered in production, especially those with visible impact. In those situations, you naturally ask yourself: What did I miss? What could I have done better? You go into the next release cycle with a bit more caution, maybe even fear.
At the same time, I learned how important it is not to let that feeling turn into blame. It’s crucial to communicate openly, take responsibility where needed, and create an environment where the team learns from mistakes instead of being defined by them.
Over the years, I’ve worked on projects within various company segments (sCore, gCore, and iCore), and I genuinely enjoyed each one, so much that transitions were never easy. What I’ve learned is that no matter how different the projects are, they all have one thing in common: great people. People who support each other share knowledge and make even stressful moments lighter. Change is constant, and I’ve learned not to be afraid of it.
5. Outside of work, who is Ana? How do you disconnect, recharge, and keep balance?
I definitely need personal time to reset and start the day with a fresh, lighter mindset. In my free time, I go to yoga, enjoy watching a good series, and there’s nothing better than long summer evenings spent with friends and family over good food and drinks. That’s what truly recharges me.
After intense or demanding project phases, the best solution would probably be not jumping straight into another hectic one. But what really helps is taking a longer vacation, ideally somewhere a bit farther from home, where I can fully disconnect, step away from daily routines, and (at least temporarily) stop thinking about what my teammates might currently be struggling with.
That distance helps me come back more focused, calm, and ready for the next challenge.
Ana’s journey shows how exploration can turn into expertise. What began as a student opportunity evolved into a leadership role built on curiosity, discipline, and steady growth.
Her perspective on quality goes far beyond testing. It’s about understanding systems in depth, making responsible release decisions, learning from challenges, and fostering a culture where accountability replaces blame. With her analytical mindset, attention to detail, and balanced leadership approach, Ana represents modern QA leadership, combining precision with pragmatism and high standards with real-world delivery.