The software industry has been rapidly evolving and transforming in recent years, with emerging technologies such as cloud computing,artificial intelligence, and machine learning reshaping the landscape. In this dynamic and everchanging industry, women are increasingly taking on leadership roles, driving innovation, and bringing fresh perspectives. Manya Rao, Chief Product Officer at FIREFLINK, is at the forefront of this trend, working to provide next-generation cloud solutions and AI-infused software testing products to help businesses optimize their software testing scope.

As a tech-savvy leader, Manya is constantly staying up to date with the latest trends and developments in the industry, leveraging her extensive experience and passion for technology to drive FIREFLINK’s success.Manya Rao engages in an exclusive interaction with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine, here’s the highlight.

Can you describe your educational back ground and prior experience in the industry?

I completed my education from Mysore and have always had an unwavering commitment to whatever I do. Eventually, I began my career as a software developer with a few startups and later transitioned to software testing roles. With a passion for training, my goal was to narrow the disconnect between the expectations of fresh graduates in the software industry and university teachings. I had the opportunity to train almost 85,000 new graduates in Java and software testing tools & technologies at Qspiders, the world’s largest software testing finishing school, for 12 years. As a corporate trainer for leading organizations and as a solutions architect at Test Yantra, I established several global test automation centers of excellence for various large-scale customer projects in the banking, insurance, and e-commerce domains. I am proud to have found our business in the North American region and led it from our California unit for almost four years. Each of these roles has provided me with opportunities to learn and grow, contributing to my overall success in the software industry.

Could you provide an overview of FIREFLINK and your role as the Chief Product Officer?

FIREFLINK is a market-leading product organization in the software testing space with a focus on revolutionizing the future of test automation. FIREFLINK’s tagline “Extreme Testing’ reflects its unique offering of the Hyper Test Automation model that drastically reduces software test automation efforts from years to just a few days and this groundbreaking approach is transforming the software testing industry.

As the Chief Product Officer at FIREFLINK, I have had the opportunity to contribute to the company’s success in various roles. I have been involved in crafting the product vision, feature design, preparing and prioritizing product backlogs, setting up engineering teams, serving as a scrum master, building sales and marketing teams, and delivering product demos for customers across the globe. My overall responsibility includes overseeing the product and business of FIREFLINK, focusing on driving the company’s growth and making it the go-to solution for test automation in the industry.

"I strongly believe that we don’t get what we wish for, but we get what we work for with extreme passion & dedication"

What are the challenges you face as a Chief Product Officer, the key milestones you have achieved, and what is your success mantra?

As the Chief Product Officer at FIREFLINK, I have encountered numerous obstacles in establishing a nascent product organization. One of the most challenging endeavors involved establishing geographically dispersed teams, which was once deemed impossible, but due to the COVID situation, we managed to accomplish this feat seamlessly. Another hurdle was assembling a nucleus team that shared our vision and aligned with the company’s objectives. Fortunately, I have a team that shares my enthusiasm for innovative and progressive concepts and has assisted me in transforming my aspirations into actuality.

Through FIREFLINK, I can now provide a much-needed solution to the software testing ecosystem. I leveraged my extensive industry experience to design the product features and launched it from scratch, which was a significant milestone for us. Since the launch, positive responses from customers worldwide have been a daily source of motivation for our team.

My success mantra is to work with extreme passion and dedication to achieve what we desire rather than merely wishing for it. As a woman leader, I believe in balancing all aspects of life. My advice to young women is - stay focussed & chase your dreams with consistent efforts. Each one of us can be that change maker.

Can you share your key strengths as a business leader and your strategies to stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies?

As a business leader, I strive to provide cutting-edge software testing solutions to the global IT industry through next-gen cloud solutions and AI-infused testing products. I believe in building passionate, high-performing teams that share our organization’s vision. To stay upto- date with the latest industry trends and technologies, I spend a lot of time interacting with CTOs and technology directors across the software industry and analyzing their fundamental business challenges. I leverage my interactions with tech leaders, participation in tech shows, and internet browsing to continuously update my knowledge and align our product roadmap with the latest technological advancements. Micromanagement is not my style, and I believe in hand-picking passionate and energetic team members who share our vision and empower them to achieve our shared goals.

Manya Rao, Chief Product Officer, Fireflink

Having 15+ years of experience in software testing, Manya Rao is a seasoned business leader driving the development of next-generation cloud solutions infused with AI for software testing.

Quick Facts:
• Hobbies: Singing Carnatic classical music & Bharatanatyam dance
• A business leader you admire: Vineeta Singh(CEO, Sugar Cosmetics)