Honoring #IconsOfQuality: Anna Kovalova, Anbosoft

To celebrate the relentless passion of testers, BrowserStack is honoring some of the icons in the testing space—those who push the industry forward by sharing their knowledge with the community at large through their thought leadership.

In an industry of constant change, true leaders are defined by their ability to build, adapt, and inspire. Anna Kovalova, a QA Professional with over 15 years of experience and Co-founder of Anbosoft, embodies this spirit perfectly. Her career is a testament to versatility, with deep expertise spanning software, hardware, and firmware testing. Anna's journey is marked by a unique blend of corporate leadership and entrepreneurial drive, having established robust QA processes from the ground up in dynamic startup environments.

As an AI enthusiast and a hands-on practitioner with over 17,000 hours of freelance experience, she combines strategic vision with a profound, empathetic understanding of client needs. It is this unique combination of hands-on expertise and a forward-looking mindset that makes her a true Icon of Quality.

We spoke with Anna to understand her perspective on the future of testing, the practical application of AI, and the lessons she’s learned throughout her remarkable career.

What are the most exciting aspects of your role as the co-founder of Anbosoft?

One of the most exciting aspects is the flexibility of my role. I’ve worked as a QA engineer for many years, and I still truly love this job. Running tests—even manually—feels almost like a form of meditation to me, and I enjoy staying hands-on whenever projects need extra support.

At the same time, I get to act as a QA manager and coach, guiding junior team members and sharing my experience to help them grow. What excites me most, though, is the freedom to be creative. For example, I recently introduced a unique AI-powered QA audit. It combines a maturity score, risk analysis, and a prioritized action plan to show companies where they are, where they could be, and how to get there. This not only highlights inefficiencies but also projects real business benefits like saving time and reducing costs. 

This blend of hands-on testing, mentorship, and innovation makes my role both meaningful and dynamic.

What’s a testing trend/innovation that’s got you excited these days?

I know it’s not a unique answer, but I have to say AI. New tools are appearing almost every day, and it’s clear that AI is one of the biggest trends shaping the future of testing. It’s exciting to see how it can streamline repetitive tasks and help teams work more efficiently. 

At the same time, this innovation brings new challenges, especially around security and trust. As AI adoption grows, we need to ensure we’re not only leveraging its power but also addressing the risks it introduces. That balance between innovation and responsibility is what makes this trend so exciting.

What's your hot take on AI in testing?

AI isn’t going to replace testers, but it will absolutely transform how we work. I see it more as a supercharged assistant than a job killer. 

People often say “developers can own testing,” but anyone who’s done real QA knows it’s far more nuanced than just running a few automated checks. Current AI solutions are powerful, but they still struggle with the contextual understanding of complex user flows and subtle business logic.

My hot take is this: QA professionals aren’t just clicking buttons—we’re risk managers and advocates for the user experience. We bring critical thinking and domain expertise that AI can’t replicate overnight. AI will make us faster, but it won’t replace the human judgment that ensures products are truly reliable.

What's one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting their career in testing?

My advice is to embrace mistakes as part of the learning process. When you’re just starting, you will make errors—and that’s completely normal. If you’re not making mistakes, you’re probably not pushing yourself hard enough. Each mistake is an opportunity to learn, so treat them as valuable lessons rather than setbacks.

The key is to avoid repeating the same ones. It can be discouraging when a client finds a defect you missed, but don’t let it shake your confidence. Instead, take time to understand the root cause and adjust your approach. Every lesson you take from these experiences will make you a stronger QA professional.

How do you keep up with all the new trends and tools in software testing?

I keep up through a mix of community engagement and continuous learning. I regularly attend software testing meetups and conferences to exchange knowledge with peers. I also read books, take courses, and pursue new certifications to deepen my expertise. On top of that, I follow QA leaders’ blogs and LinkedIn posts, which helps me stay updated on emerging practices and real-world insights.

What are the things you wish you knew about testing when you started your career?

I wish I had realized sooner how important it is to understand the client and business goals. Testing isn’t just about finding bugs; it’s about creating business value. When you truly understand the user stories, the requirements, and the bigger context, you become more confident in your decision-making, better at prioritizing, and more effective at preventing both technical defects and misunderstandings in features.

I also wish I had appreciated soft skills earlier. I thought QA was mainly technical, but communication, adaptability, and organization play a huge role. We work closely with developers, product managers, and clients, and poor communication can easily lead to major risks. Building soft skills—like running effective meetings, adapting to new environments, and collaborating seamlessly—not only elevates you as a QA engineer but also makes you a stronger teammate and professional overall.

Outside of the tech world, what's a hobby or activity you're really passionate about?

I’m passionate about leading an active lifestyle. It helps me recharge and often sparks new ideas. I especially love hiking—whether I go solo or with others—I always come back with fresh insights and renewed energy. I’m also drawn to water activities like kayaking, jet skiing, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, and wakeboarding (I even once tried yoga on a SUP—a truly unique experience!). In the winter, I make time to ski for at least a couple of days. Beyond sports, I enjoy reading books and spending quality time with my family.

(Responses may have been edited for clarity.)