As we’ve learned throughout our “Learning & Development Stories” series, one of the keys to success when transitioning roles is heeding the call to step up. It can be uncomfortable and daunting to accept new responsibilities, as it means learning new abilities and meeting new people. But that’s just what Ana Laura did when she moved from Localization QA to our Sales team, and she never looked back. 

Origins 

Born and raised in El Salvador, the smallest mainland country in Central America, Ana graduated high school and moved to Alberta, Canada. There she studied literature and linguistics in Spanish, English, French, and Italian. “I taught Spanish at the university,” she shares. “Not in any of its classrooms, but in its libraries and coffee shops.” 

When she finished her studies, Ana moved to Montreal, where she hoped to escape Alberta’s harsh climate and put her fresh diploma to good use. “Once in Montreal, I applied to the position of Spanish LQA Tester at PTW, a role and company entirely new to me. I was initially attracted to the job description because it would give me a chance to apply my language skills and allow me to set foot in the entertainment industry.” 

Growing up, Ana didn’t own any game console, so her opportunities to play had been limited to short visits to friends’ and cousins’ houses. “As an adult, I was enticed by the idea of testing video games and making up for lost time.” 

Ana arrived at our original Montreal studio, “a small office with a big heart”, in January 2019. “There were only about fifteen of us in-office back then and together we filled the small space with a crazy amount of energy and talent,” she reminisces.

“As if that wasn’t enough to convince me I was in the right place, I was introduced to my first project, Trover Saves the Universe from Squanch Games. I was hooked. Nothing has been the same since.” 

Career development 

Ana’s previous position was LQA Associate Project Coordinator of the insourced team at the WB Games studio in Montreal. Her current position is Senior Sales Engineer for the Business Development segment of our Sales team.  

When the opportunity to transfer to the role of Sales Engineer arose in March of 2022, Ana was hesitant about seizing it. “After a long time of testing, among other games, Turtle Rock Studios’ Back 4 Blood, I had started focusing on the highly anticipated Hogwarts Legacy from Portkey Games,” she relates. “My apprehension, however, lay mainly in the thought of having to leave my team behind and in my conviction that I had a much better grasp of words than numbers. So, my immediate reaction was to politely decline.” 

However, Ana re-evaluated her situation and ambitions as she was encouraged by PTW leadership to take the leap. “I determined that although I was enjoying the role of Associate Project Coordinator and wanted to grow within the company, there was perhaps a better opportunity for me in Sales, where I could learn new skills and get to know my company better, through a completely new perspective. Finally, I applied for the role of what was then called Sales Support Executive and was transferred to the Sales team, where I’ve been thriving ever since.” 

Role comparisons 

Ana delineates some of the similarities and differences between her previous and current roles. “Both positions require a keen eye for detail,” she says. “In LQA, you risk a title failing submission if you don’t report a certification issue, even if it just occurs in one language. In Sales, you risk damaging client relationships and compromising the company’s overall profitability and reputation if you produce flawed commercial documents.” 

Ana points out that both positions require the ability to work as a team, both within your own and in relation to others. “When I was at the WB Games studio, we would have to work very closely with the Translation team. In Sales, although the Sales Engineering team is considerably smaller, we still need to operate as one and coordinate with the delivery teams, the Marketing team, Finance, our clients, etc.”  

Of course, there are notable differences between the two positions, too. “In LQA, I was focused only on my department and its role in the success of the company,” Ana explains. “In Sales, I have gained a global perspective of the company and the importance of each of its service lines. Now I can better appreciate its worldwide success in Art, Game Development, Player Support, Localization, and much more.” 

Ana has found that as a member of the Sales team, she has more agency to improve processes already in place and set new ones in motion. “This is partly due to there being a more codified structure in the LQA team,” she says. “A crucial part of that structure is a clear hierarchy, which is very different to what I found in the Sales team. Instead, I found freedom, and the responsibility to largely manage myself and learn to be more proactive.” 

Applied wisdom 

Ana shares what she’s learned about LQA’s essential role in the gaming industry and about its duty to ensure a game’s success in markets worldwide. “While learning the inner workings of LQA, I understood that, at the best of times, testing solutions are aligned with client expectations, and at the worst of times, they require creative solutions and/or better communication,” Ana says. “This has been particularly helpful in my new position when analyzing client needs. It has helped me propose informed solutions when working with our Business Development Managers and delivery teams to ensure healthy business relationships.” 

Another major benefit of Ana’s time in LQA is a finely honed ability to communicate. As she puts it: “The world of LQA is defined by its different languages and cultures, which makes for a very exciting atmosphere with a very high likelihood of misunderstandings. Learning to communicate in a clear and effective manner helps manage many situations and avoid many others.” 

In summary 

Ana sums up her thoughts about her transition within PTW: