2026-02-13 –, RoboCon
When I first started with Robot Framework, I had no idea what I was doing. Over the years, those messy experiments turned into a career built on curiosity, mistakes and learning. In this talk, I’ll share how that journey shaped me. From early tests to mentoring others and what I’ve learned about growth, persistence and how boredom and failure can lead to better work.
How do you go from knowing nothing about test automation to becoming a senior and later a lead with Robot Framework?
And what can that journey teach about quality, learning and growth?
In this talk, I will share how one small step into Robot Framework grew into a five-year career shaped by curiosity, mistakes and persistence. From building my first unstructured UI tests to creating and improving larger automation suites, refactoring broken setups and mentoring others. Every phase has taught me something new, both technically and personally.
We will look at how understanding comes from doing, how getting bored is an important part of evolving and how failures turn into better practices. New environments and challenges have a way of changing how we see quality and I will share what that’s looked like for me.
Attendees will leave with real examples, lessons learned and practical ideas to strengthen their own work with Robot Framework.
One phase, one lesson and one improvement at a time.
This talk is about what five years with Robot Framework have really taught me. Not through theory or textbooks, but by doing, failing, and figuring things out as I went.
Attendees will hear about:
Getting started from zero. What actually matters in those first steps and how doing things badly at first can still move you forward faster than waiting to “know enough.”
Why boredom can be useful. How routine work and repetition sometimes push you to find better ways and how curiosity often starts right when things feel dull.
Turning mistakes into lessons. I’ll share a few honest examples and what it taught me about structure, documentation, and keeping things maintainable.
How change shapes perspective. Moving between projects, teams and environments has changed how I see quality and helped me grow as both a tester and a mentor.
You’ll leave with stories you can relate to, real examples from daily work, and small ideas you can try in your own Robot Framework projects: one phase, one lesson, and one improvement at a time. And in the end, it’s really about three things: building for the next person, staying curious and growing together.
Categorize / Tags:Test Automation, Career Growth, Lessons Learned, Mentoring, Quality
Is this suitable for ..?: Beginner RF User, Intermediate RF User In-Person or Online talk/workshop?:In-Person
Jamina Pöllänen is a Senior Test Automation Engineer and Chapter Lead who helps teams build reliable and efficient digital services through smart automation and strong collaboration. She leads by example, connects people and ideas and creates an environment where quality and growth go hand in hand.
Jamina started her IT career completely by accident but quickly found her passion in quality, learning and helping others succeed. Over the years she has grown from trainee to senior and now focuses on leading and mentoring others on their own journeys in tech. Her talks share real stories and lessons from experience, showing how curiosity, small steps and openness to learning can turn challenges into progress.