Who are you and what is your role at luvo?
Hi, I’m Gary Brookes and I’m the Director of Testing at luvo. I am one of the founders, alongside Nik Sehgal.
What are you working on right now?
I’m currently providing strategic help to one of our larger clients, turning around a project that was in a bit of an unknown state when they realised they needed help to get it over the line. I am also working on solidifying luvo’s marketing approach alongside our amazing new head of marketing so we can get the word out there about what we do and how we do it.
What are luvo’s goals for the next 12 months?
I’ve been told we are software testing’s best-kept secret, but we want to let everyone know our secret! There are so many companies that need help to get a handle on their software testing and we know how easily it can be done. So, I’d say our main goal for the upcoming twelve months and beyond is getting our name out there so we can connect with them.
What are your favourite things to work on?
One of my favourite things to work on is a project rescue, that’s where I originally cut my teeth and still enjoy it today. Going in late to help turn a project around and give the stakeholders all the information they need to confidently push their project to production. Outside of testing I love working on marketing initiatives and seeing their results.
What’s your favourite app for day-to-day needs?
I’m a big fan of lots of journaling and productivity apps, Notion and Roam Research for example, but my go-to app has to be Airtable. It’s amazing for quickly getting your head around a particular project and tracking what needs to be done. We use it all the time at work. I’ve been told that Airtable should be paying me for promoting it to others and I did think of setting up an Airtable consultancy recently to help spread the word!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever heard?
“The truth will set you free.” I worked with a Project Manager at a company in Sydney in the early 2000s and he said that to me when I let him know upfront the test report I was about to send to the Execs was not pretty. I’ve stuck to it ever since.
What’s something you do regularly outside of work?
Getting into or onto the ocean at least once a week. It’s one of the main reasons I love Australia, so many options for great beaches and fun waves. Fishing, paddle boarding and still trying to master the humble surfboard.
Seen anything lately that made you smile?
Since I read ‘The Happiness Advantage’ by Shawn Achor a few years ago, a lot of things have made me smile. One thing lately that makes me smile a lot is my 5-year-old daughter, she’s such a little character and puts her two older brothers in their place so easily. I smile to myself imagining what the future holds for her and those around her.
How do you like your eggs?
Fried for sure. On top of bacon, in a brekkie roll, at a beach kiosk overlooking the ocean!
