From Textiles to Tech: Magbule Bamja’s Bold Leap into QA Automation

This edition is part of our International Women’s Month campaign, Accelerate Action — a celebration of the women at Valtech who are leading change, breaking barriers, and driving inclusive growth across our global network.

A passion for continuous learning and an unwavering determination to grow — are the driving forces behind Magbule Bamja’s career transformation. Today, she’s a QA Automation Engineer at Valtech, based in Prishtina, Kosovo. But her journey started in a very different place.

With a degree in Textile Engineering and a Master’s in Scenography and Costumography, Magbule’s early career was rooted in creativity and design. But a growing curiosity for technology and a nudge from a friend sparked a bold idea: what if she pivoted to tech?

She decided to give it a try, enrolling in a remote SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) program. The timing wasn’t exactly easy. At 29, she was raising a five-year-old and pregnant with her second child.

“Balancing pregnancy with intensive learning wasn’t painless,” she says. “But I didn’t give up. I was determined to create new opportunities for myself and my growing family. It was about more than just a career change — it was about proving to myself that I could do it.” Through late-night study sessions, early mornings, and a whole lot of perseverance, she completed the nine-month program — emerging with hands-on skills in Java, Selenium, and automated testing. After her first remote project, in September 2023, she joined Kin + Carta (now part of Valtech) and stepped into a world of even greater growth.

Valtech’s flexibility and team support have been crucial for me, especially as a working mother. It’s a place where I can develop my skills while knowing I have the understanding and backing of my team.

From Self-Starter to Groundbreaker: Learning by Doing

Today, Magbule thrives in the fast-paced world of QA. From backend API testing to performance testing and mobile automation, she’s constantly learning and evolving. Most recently, she’s been exploring mobile testing — using Appium and Sauce Labs to ensure seamless experiences across Android and iOS devices.

“Every project pushes me to learn something new. And that’s what I love most here — nothing stays still. You’re always moving forward.”

One of her proudest moments is leading the migration of automated test scripts from GitLab to GitHub. Debugging unfamiliar code, collaborating with

DevOps, rewriting frameworks — every challenge became a breakthrough.

It’s not easy reading someone else’s code, but once I understood it and made it better — I knew I’d leveled up. That felt amazing.

It’s this hunger for growth that sets Magbule apart. With every challenge, she leans in —asking questions, seeking support, and building better solutions with her team.

A Culture That Invests in People, Not Just Code

One of Magbule’s most powerful experiences at Valtech has been her mentorship with Nina Hadji Kotarova, a QA lead from Skopje, North Macedonia.

“Nina wasn’t just a mentor — she became a role model,” Magbule recalls. “She invested so much time in helping me. She encouraged me to believe in myself and reminded me that women supporting women is how we grow stronger together. It showed me the power of women uplifting other women.”

That experience ignited something in Magbule. Today, she shares what she’s learned in QA guilds across our Southeastern Europe offices in Pristina, Skopje, and Sofia — whether it’s automation techniques or effective collaboration strategies.

“Valtech really supports growth,” she adds. “Whether it’s switching projects, working remotely when I need it, or learning from teammates across cultures — it’s a place where I’m constantly evolving.”

What Women in Tech Need to Hear

At the heart of her story is a spirit of collaboration. Whether working across time zones or disciplines, Magbule sees diversity as a strength — not just in teams, but in thought.

I love working with people from all over the world. Different cultures bring different ways of thinking — and I learn so much from that. Even how someone structures their calendar can inspire me.

She’s also a firm believer that inclusion means more than being invited — it means being heard. Even as a junior, she felt her opinions mattered. “I may have been new, but my voice was valued. That makes all the difference.”

This March, Magbule’s story is part of Valtech’s Women’s Month campaign, under the theme “Accelerate Action.” It’s a call to break down barriers and move decisively toward equity — something Magbule embodies with every step she takes.

As Valtech continues to prioritise diversity in all it does, stories like Magbule’s are proof that diversity in tech isn’t just possible — it’s already happening.

“Merit doesn’t have a gender. Women from all backgrounds can thrive in tech. We don’t need perfect conditions. We need opportunity, support, and belief.”

Making Tech Work for Life

Magbule’s journey isn’t just about career milestones. It’s about how she’s gotten there: balancing ambition with family, learning with motherhood, and pressure with purpose.

“When my daughter was a baby, I supported my team with night shifts while still breastfeeding. It wasn’t easy, but my husband supported me, and my team trusted me.”

Valtech’s flexibility — like allowing her to work remotely during Ramadan or limit in-office days when needed — has been critical. It has allowed Magbule to pursue professional growth while remaining present for her family.

I use my calendar to plan every hour. After work, the laptop closes and I’m with my kids. Later at night, when everyone’s asleep, I open it again to keep learning. That’s my rhythm.

When she’s not solving QA puzzles or diving into new testing frameworks, you’ll likely find her reconnecting with the things that bring her joy: skiing with her siblings — a beloved tradition since she was six, or swimming — her go-to way to unwind and reset.

“I’ve skied with my brother and sister for as long as I can remember. It’s one of the few places I feel totally free. Swimming clears my head and helps me refocus. These are small joys that fuel everything else.”

To women considering a leap into tech, Magbule says this:

“Don’t be afraid to start from scratch. Believe in yourself. Ask for help. Keep going. Growth doesn’t have a deadline. Trust the process and know that learning never stops. You’re capable of more than you think — one step, one day at a time.”

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