This month, host Mike Hrycyk is joined by Arash Taheri (Central One Credit Union) and DJ Sicoli-Khull (PLATO) for a deep dive into the evolving intersection of DevOps, automation, and artificial intelligence. The panel explores how DevOps has shifted from a culture-driven practice to a more integrated, platform-oriented ecosystem in which AI and automation are no longer optional but foundational. From the rise of platform engineering and DevSecOps to AI-assisted test selection and predictive pipelines, the conversation highlights how modern DevOps is becoming smarter, more adaptive, and increasingly developer-focused.

Whether you're a DevOps practitioner, QA engineer, or technology leader, this episode offers practical insights into how automation and AI are reshaping software delivery, and what it takes to stay ahead.

Episode Transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

What does it really mean to be a Test Lead? In this episode of PLATO Panel Talks, host Mike Hrycyk sits down with experienced testing professionals Sal Bugliarisi (Accenture) and Bhavya Bhatnagar (PLATO) to draw on their real-world experience across projects and teams. The panel discusses how Test Leads influence testing strategy, guide communication across stakeholders, and help teams balance quality with delivery timelines. They also explore the leadership skills that make the biggest difference—from mentoring testers and managing risk to advocating for quality throughout the development lifecycle.

Whether you're an aspiring Test Lead, a tester looking to grow into leadership, or a technology leader who wants to better understand the value of quality leadership, this conversation offers practical insights into how strong Test Leads help teams deliver better software.

Episode Transcript ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/

In this special milestone episode, Mike Hrycyk sits down with Keith McIntosh (PLATO CEO and Co-Founder) and Denis Carignan (PLATO CIO and Co-Founder) to celebrate 10 years of Indigenous Software Tester Training. Together, they reflect on how the program began in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the vision behind its creation, and how it has grown into a national model for building Indigenous careers in technology. From early challenges and lessons learned to scaling workforce development across Canada, this conversation explores what it takes to create lasting impact in tech education.

The episode also features reflections from members of the very first cohort, Kevin Jerome, Keisha Nguyen, and Matt Amos, sharing how the training shaped their careers and perspectives over the past decade. As PLATO continues recruiting for a new cohort in 2026, this 10-year reflection, with real-world insight from the leaders and graduates who helped shape the journey, looks back at what’s been achieved and forward to the future of Indigenous talent in Canada’s technology sector.

Episode Transcript ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠

Find us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://platotech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/plato-testing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PLATOTechGroup/