Meet Jessica Mosley, a quality engineering virtuoso who’s been wrangling tech teams, dodging bureaucracy, and making waves in the software world for over 20 years. She’s got the kind of experience you just can’t fake, having tackled everything from software development to DevOps, IT, and Customer Experience. If there’s an inefficiency lurking in a process, Jessica’s the one to spot it, and she’ll do it with a grin and maybe just a touch of sarcasm.
But don’t let her laid-back style fool you. Jessica’s fierce about quality. For her, it’s not just a metric, it’s a way of life. She’s on a mission to show that a quality mindset can turn a good company into a great one and that the real secret to success is found in building stronger connections between people, not just polishing the code. As a keynote speaker, Jessica’s known for blending real talk with charm, captivating audiences as she shares how prioritizing quality can elevate a workplace, boost morale, and yes, maybe even make work enjoyable.
Jessica’s talks are a mix of humor, hard-earned wisdom, and a nudge to look at quality in a whole new way. Get ready for a fresh perspective that’ll make you rethink what it really means to succeed.
Episode Description: Join host Brandon Wetzstein as he welcomes Jessica Mosley, a quality engineering veteran with over 20 years of experience spanning software development, DevOps, IT, and customer experience. Through innovative LEGO® Serious Play® methodology, Jessica shares valuable insights on team building, leadership development, and creating authentic workplace connections in today's distributed work environment.
Time Stamps:
[00:00:01] - Introduction to Herding Squirrels podcast and guest Jessica Mosley
[00:01:02] - First LEGO build: Jessica shares her life outside of work, including gaming, plants, and family connections
[00:02:37] - Jessica discusses her current gaming interests, including Destiny and Doom Legends
[00:03:22] - Second build: Jessica describes her best team experience at a Taiwanese company
[00:05:25] - Discussion about facing barriers in new jobs and how they can become bridges for growth
[00:06:46] - The importance of a supportive team that "looks out for" members versus monitoring them
[00:07:54] - Jessica shares a powerful first-day story about handling a "catastrophic failure" with team support
[00:09:17] - Third build: Exploring Jessica's worst team experience
[00:11:30] - Breakdown of team dysfunction: spread thin resources, silos, and leadership that "sets things ablaze"
[00:12:00] - Discussion on the foundational reasons for poor team dynamics, including fear and vulnerability
[00:13:15] - How the pandemic changed workplace dynamics and created new power currencies in distributed teams
[00:13:50] - Jessica's leadership journey and how she initially never planned to become a leader
[00:15:38] - Surprising leadership insight: "It's more like relationships than people think"
[00:16:56] - The biggest change in leadership post-pandemic: the increasing need for empathy and people leadership
[00:18:17] - Final build: Jessica's advice for new leaders - "Come in as your authentic self"
[00:19:18] - Jessica's reflection on the LEGO Serious Play experience
[00:19:54] - Where to find Jessica online (LinkedIn, Blue Sky, and Instagram)
Featured Quotes:
"How can we help you in going forward in this?" - Jessica sharing the supportive approach of her best team experience [00:08:05]
"Your team isn't expecting Tony Robbins or Lee Iacocca or something like that. They're expecting you." - Jessica's advice for new leaders [00:19:06]
Connect with Jessica Mosley:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessmosley/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/guruofqualitea/
BlueSky: @guruofqualitea.bsky.social
About Herding Squirrels: Herding Squirrels is a podcast about modern teams, hosted by Brandon Wetzstein of IN8 Create. Through LEGO® Serious Play® methodology and engaging conversations, the podcast explores the nuances of effective teamwork, leadership, and collaboration in today's evolving workplace.
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