Staff Spotlight – David Bona Sánchez

Welcome to our Q&A series, where we take you behind the scenes to meet the incredible individuals who drive Sparta’s achievements. Join us as we delve into the unique stories, passions, and talents that make our team thrive.

Today, it’s our pleasure to introduce David Bona Sánchez, our QA Manager and a recent addition to our Sparta Commodities team. David joined us in September 2023, and he’s already making a significant impact. Let’s get to know more about his journey, role, and aspirations.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COMPANY?

I joined Sparta Commodities in September 2023. Throughout these first few weeks, I’ve been impressed by the human quality of the people I work with. The meaning of “Stay hungry, be humble” is truly motivating, as it is evident in every aspect of our team. This value reflects growth and authentic collaboration.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR ROLE

Playing the role of QA Manager, I have the honour of leading a talented team that is passionate about software quality. The team has an impressive set of abilities that they use daily. During these weeks, I have received very positive feedback regarding their analytical abilities and think-out-of-the-box mentality, both of which are essential for a good QA mindset.

With the objective of continuous improvement of software quality, we collaborate to implement best practices, optimise processes, and plan testing strategies, taking into account the classic triad of people, processes and technology. This perspective allows us to create strategies that not only meet industry standards but also perfectly align with the needs and expectations of our customers.

As a QA Manager, I apply the servant-leader management style, supporting the team in their growth, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone’s insights are valued, and ensuring that our QA efforts contribute significantly to the overall success of the initiatives and the company goals.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY?/CAN YOU GIVE ME A RUNDOWN OF YOUR CAREER PATH UP UNTIL THIS POINT?

Along my career, I have had the privilege of working for different companies wearing different hats. I began my journey as a QA Engineer at Hewlett-Packard, gaining foundational experience in quality assurance.

Later I contributed to organisations like Telefónica, Packlink, Auctane and Tuenti facing different management challenges, dealing with complex technical scenarios and building QA and Security teams from the scratch.

I also embarked on an enriching international experience as a QA Engineer at Atlassian in Sydney, where I immersed myself in a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration. My career path led me to management roles as QA Manager, Engineering Manager and Tech Lead, where I further developed my leadership abilities.

A curious fact about my career is that I have worked at different stages in the same companies (Tuenti – Telefónica, Packlink – Auctane), which allowed me to have a first-hand view of their progression and growth.

Currently, at Sparta Commodities, I hold the position of QA Manager with a strong determination to be an integral part of a significant venture and to contribute to the success of a leading application in the sector.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF WORKING AT OUR COMPANY?

The quality of the people and the team’s culture of humility and collaboration. This fosters an ego-free environment.

I also love working in a product company that solves real customer needs and is a leader in the market. Having direct communication with our customers, receive feedback and shape our product according to their evolving needs and market dynamics. It’s an exciting and rewarding challenge.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

The opportunity to build teams from the scratch in various companies, focusing on both quality and security areas. I’ve been involved throughout the entire process, from hiring and inception to establishment and optimisation.

During my time as Engineering Manager, I faced the challenge of moving the engineering department to 100% remote work when the pandemic hit. Collaborating with a talented team of engineering managers, we defined processes, established effective ways of working, and crafted communication guidelines, ensuring we kept teams and products 100% operational.

I’ve had the privilege of working in organisations with a highly mature corporate culture that they embrace in their daily operations. This experience was incredible, and I strive to replicate these cultural strengths wherever I go.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OUR COMPANY CULTURE?

I have seen a culture focused on customers, transparency and teamwork. It is a culture that encourages ambition and humility. Despite my brief time here, I have already felt the dynamic and inspiring nature of our company culture and am excited to contribute to its continued success.

I have also been able to observe very good communication practices, very important for a company with remote workers, and an excellent feedback culture the company promotes by providing guidelines and tools so that it can happen.

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING PROJECT YOU HAVE WORKED ON HERE?

I’m still in my onboarding process. However, looking at the broader picture, the launch of different verticals like Diesel or Naphtha has caught my attention. These projects are challenging but incredibly rewarding. It is fascinating to witness the effort, care, dedication, and enthusiasm that all departments invest when launching a new vertical.

WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT?

One surprising fact about me is that some years ago, my wife and I faced a challenge. While working in Spain and with our wedding planned for July, I received a job offer from Atlassian in Australia. We decided to take the opportunity, so we relocated to Australia in April. We had to continue the wedding preparations from Australia with the help of our family in Spain. In July, we returned to Spain to celebrate our wedding and decided that our honeymoon would be in Fiji islands, because it was close to what was our home at that time (Australia). It was a memorable year filled with exciting changes and overseas planning.

WHAT ARE YOU GOALS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS/YEARS?

In the upcoming months, my main goal is to unleash the full potential of Sparta’s QA team. I am working to establish strong internal processes and tools that directly help us to improve the quality of our application products. As Aristotle wisely said, “Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” This quote summarises our guiding principle as we plan our strategy.

In order to achieve success, apart from having an exceptional team of QA Engineers who possess a robust QA mindset and remarkable analytical capabilities, it is very important that our QA strategy is integrated into our overall engineering strategy, enhancing our levels of maturity. We should create a culture of quality that have to be deeply ingrained within all our teams.

Some specific areas we will focus on include improving automation coverage, continuing to develop testing strategies for complex scenarios, identifying new opportunities to collaborate with other areas, and implementing best practices related to QA in all the different phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Remember that about 90% of the things that worry us never actually happen. Embrace every moment, reflect on what you can control, prioritise self-care, and pursue happiness. These insights have become valuable principles in my life, guiding me to stay focused on the present, maintain perspective, and prioritise my well-being.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOUR JOB?

One thing I’d like people to understand about my role and the QA roles in general, is that it’s not just about finding defects in software; it’s about ensuring that our products meet the highest standards of quality and reliability. QA plays a critical role in the software development process by designing and executing test strategies, enhancing automation, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional products. We are not just testers; we are quality advocates who strive to make a positive impact on the customer experience and the success of our company. Our work goes beyond finding issues; it’s about preventing them and continuously improving our processes and tools.

There are no universal QA strategies. Each QA strategy must be adapted to the team, company and business where we work, to the needs and strategic objectives that we want to achieve, to the market evolution and the moment in time in which we find ourselves.

IF YOU HAD THREE WISHES, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

The well-being and good health of my family and loved ones.

The ability to travel back in time and make wise investments in cryptocurrencies.

The possibility to keep this last wish in reserve for a time when I really need it.

WHAT’S THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?

The last song I listened to on Spotify is: I’ll be waiting – Cian Ducrot.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGE-WATCHING OR READING?

Atomic Habits (James Clear).

WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

The most important item on my bucket list is to continue enjoying every moment spent with my family and being part of my 4-year-old daughter’s growth.

David is our QA Manager here at Sparta and can be contacted at david.bona@spartacommodities.com

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Sparta is a live, market intelligence and forecasting platform that enables oil traders, refiners, banks, hedge funds and wholesalers to have access to real-time and global actionable insights to capture market opportunities before others.

To find out how Sparta can allow you to make smarter trading decisions, faster, contact us for a demonstration at sales@spartacommodites.com