What I’ve Learned After 10 Years of Consulting

After ten years as a QA consultant, one thing has become clearer to me than anything else: the work only goes well when the relationship does.

At Connective Consulting, that’s really the heart of what we do. We don’t drop into a project, run tests, and disappear. We sit beside our clients sometimes literally, sometimes over endless Zoom calls and we build real relationships with the people we’re supporting. When you spend your days helping teams solve problems, untangle requirements, and navigate the stress of release cycles, you get to know them pretty well.

And honestly, that trust is what makes everything else possible.

When clients trust us, conversations open up. We can share ideas freely, ask the “dumb” questions that actually uncover the real issues, and lean on each other when things get messy. We learn from them, they learn from us, and together we build something better than any of us could have done alone.

A big part of my job is simply being a listening ear understanding the daily struggles, the shifting priorities, the pressure to deliver. Quality software doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when people feel supported, heard, and safe to be honest about what’s working and what isn’t.

And that’s why I’m proud to work with Connective. We’re real, US-based consultants who understand what our clients are dealing with because we’ve lived it too. We care about the people behind the software just as much as the software itself. At the end of the day, we share the same goal: build something great, together.

If there’s one thing a decade in consulting has taught me, it’s this: trust isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s the foundation of good work. And when you have it, everything else gets a whole lot easier.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amanda Natvig - Manual QA professional with 18 years of experience, including 13 years in consulting. She blends her QA expertise with business analyst skills to help teams clarify requirements, solve problems and deliver high-quality software. Outside of work, she loves baking cakes, exploring beautiful beaches, catching Dave Matthews Band concerts, and cheering on her son in whatever sport is in season.