STAREAST 2025 - Keynotes


Keynotes are included in all passes! These industry visionaries will take the stage for in-depth discussions on trending topics.

Wednesday, April 30

Dona Sarkar
Microsoft
K1

Oops AI Did It Again: How to Get AI and Agents to Stop Being Weird and Actually Be Useful in Your Business

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 8:30am to 9:45am

We're starting to see AI and agents everywhere. Let's admit it, though - at times they can be unruly. Not good! Why does this happen? Where can AI go wrong? How do we wrestle these tools into line? Maybe get them to wear a tie at times, if that's not asking too much? Dona will tackle common pitfalls you might run into with AI and agents. She'll show you how to address the quirks that make AI seem unpredictable. You'll learn how to set clear expectations for AI performance, and design systems that work for YOUR business. She'll show you a framework to harness AI and agents effectively. And...

Janna Loeffler
The Walt Disney Company
K2

Put Our Service to the Test!

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 10:00am to 11:00am

"Put Our Service to the Test" invites you on a magical journey through Disney Enterprise Technology's Quality Engineering wonderland, where they're serving up more than just test cases! In this adventure, Janna will show you how their team is making testing dreams come true, one quality solution at a time. They're bringing the magic of Disney to software quality. Join Janna as she explores how quality engineering services are going "To QE and Beyond!" She will showcase how the team is more reliable than Dory's short-term memory, more thorough than Mrs. Potts' tea service, and more...

Adam_Auerbach
EPAM Systems
K3

Panel - Revolutionizing Test Automation: The Impact of Generative AI on Quality Engineering

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 4:15pm to 5:15pm

As Generative AI rapidly reshapes how we work, its impact on quality engineering and more specifically test automation is profound. Join our panel of AI and testing experts as they dive into how Gen AI is transforming testing practices, from creating smarter automation frameworks to redefining manual testing roles. Explore cutting-edge tools, discuss the challenges of integrating AI into test strategies, and debate the ethical implications of AI-driven quality engineering. This thought-provoking session will be driven by your questions and thus provide actionable insights, inspire...

Thursday, May 1

K4

Redefining Quality: Empowering Autonomous Teams for SaaS Excellence

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - 8:30am to 9:30am

Traditional roles within software development teams are being redefined in today’s fast-paced world of cloud platforms and Software as a Service (SaaS). The rise of DevOps has blurred the boundaries between development and operations, emphasizing speed, agility, and continuous delivery. Amid this transformation, the debate about whether to have a separate QA team is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Instead, the focus should shift to building autonomous, cross-functional teams equipped with the skills and ownership required to deliver high-quality SaaS products efficiently. Ronit...