Post by Brijesh Deb

I am genuinely humbled and grateful to receive the EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award 2026. The truth is that no recognition like this belongs to one person alone. Over the years, I have been fortunate to learn from incredible teachers, mentors, colleagues, leaders, and friends who challenged my thinking, shared their knowledge, and helped shape my journey. I owe each of them a debt of gratitude. I would also like to thank the EuroSTAR Conference community. For many years, EuroSTAR conference has been a place where ideas are exchanged, assumptions are challenged, and lifelong friendships are formed. Being recognised by a community that I respect so deeply means a great deal to me. A special thank you goes to The Test Chat community. What began as a small group of passionate testers has grown into something far bigger than I could have imagined. Every discussion, disagreement, event, article, podcast, and shared experience has contributed to my own growth as much as anyone else’s. One of the lessons I learned early in my career is that none of us get here alone. We stand on foundations built by people who shared their knowledge, opened doors for us, and invested in our growth. That is one of the reasons community work has always been important to me. Whether through The Test Chat, writing, speaking, mentoring, or simply having conversations with fellow professionals, I have always believed in paying forward some of what this profession has given me. This award gives me an opportunity to pause and reflect on a career that has already given me far more than I ever expected. It has allowed me to work with remarkable people, learn continuously, travel the world, and contribute to a profession that I care deeply about. Thank you to everyone who has been part of that journey. I am grateful for the recognition, but even more grateful for the people and communities that made the journey worthwhile. Thank you Arpita Swer for the wonderful message and all the kind words. And of course special thanks to Jini Mutta for standing with me through thick and thin. The journey continues. #softwaretesting #softwareengineering #qualityengineering #testingcommunity #eurostar2026 #brijeshsays