TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
Few people have the opportunity to report to a manager who is also a coach and mentor - but I did when I worked with Stuart.
It is with immense pleasure and gratitude that I recommend Stuart Ashman. I’ve had the privilege of working under Stuart’s guidance for 6 years, during a pivotal time in my career when I transitioned from technical support to QA, and eventually into leading development teams. What makes Stuart’s impact so profound is not just the professional growth I experienced, but the personal transformation he inspired.
As someone who came into software engineering leadership without a formal computer science degree, I often grappled with impostor syndrome. Stuart was instrumental in helping me overcome this. He recognized my potential and consistently reinforced the idea that practical experience, a drive to learn, and strong leadership qualities are more valuable than any certificate or academic background. His unwavering belief in my abilities, especially when I doubted myself, gave me the confidence to step into more challenging roles.
Stuart’s coaching skills are exceptional, he didn't tell me what to do; instead he empowered me to find my own solutions and develop my own leadership style. He fostered an environment of continuous learning and growth, always providing constructive feedback that was both honest and encouraging. He taught me the importance of leading by example, demonstrating integrity, empathy, and a tireless commitment to our team's success. He helped me understand that effective leadership is about inspiring and enabling others, and his own actions consistently reflected this philosophy.
I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today without Stuart’s coaching and mentorship. He is a truly inspiring leader who not only achieves outstanding results but also builds up those around him.
If you’re looking for a mentor, collaborator, coach, or leader, I highly encourage you to work with Stuart.
- Vee Weller, Software Engineering Manager, Motorola Solutions Inc.
I've worked with many leaders throughout my career but none have focused on setting me up for success as much as Stuart.
When I initially found out that our Engineering team will be bringing on yet another Director of Quality, as the Lead QA Engineer, I thought "great, here we go again". I imagined another case of someone coming in, uprooting all our functioning processes, and telling our team how our problem is that we're not agile enough.
Oh how I could not have been more wrong.
The thing that impressed me the most about Stuart is that his goal was never to change our processes, it was to educate and coach us so we could accurately assess and decide together whether our processes needed changing and, if yes (spoiler alert: they did), why. While this happened years ago, I still find myself humbly appreciating the permeating effect of that kind of focus on long term growth and the impact it had on my development as a QA professional and as a person.
One thing in particular I want to draw attention to is how Stuart reshaped the entire team's understanding of quality. How it's not just something you stick at the end of the SDLC as many teams seem to treat it. The unifying idea of quality (and the necessary techniques needed to identify and manage it) being present at every step of each process completely disarms the toxic siloed "dev vs qa vs product vs management" mindset that poisons many teams. We started shipping faster and with significantly fewer defects, frequently catching issues before they were even coded (the cheapest bug to fix is the one never written)!
I've worked with many leaders throughout my career but none have focused on setting me up for success as much as Stuart. His exemplary communication skills, wide industry expertise, and deep understanding of human psychology makes him a phenomenal coach and empowering mentor. Through his tailored workshops and challenges, the lessons not only resonated but cemented as core pillars of my quality mentality that I regularly rely on in my professional and personal life. I can honestly say that working with Stuart has elevated my career more than any other factor I can think of.
Ultimately, I can confidently say that you will greatly benefit in expected and unexpected ways from working with Stuart, whether you're QA, Dev, Product or C-Suite (especially if you're C-Suite).
- Max Nesterov. Head of Quality, Crema Social
If you’re ever lucky enough to have a conversation with Stu, take it. It might just change your life.
I’ve known Stu since 2016, and his mentorship has truly transformed my career, allowing me to move from being comfortable in my own skin as a software developer to a 180° career change, where I pursued what I really love and became a designer. He helped me gain confidence, discover my purpose, and grow a mindset of empathy and servant leadership.
I met Stu back in 2016. At the time, I had no background in web development, but Stu took a chance on me. He helped me become comfortable in my own skin. When I felt overwhelmed by the developers around me, he reminded me that not knowing everything was exactly why I was there — to ask questions. That lesson still shapes how I approach my work today. He set up side projects with me, dedicated time to pair programming, and built frameworks with me that gave me both confidence and a sense of belonging. Those experiences opened doors to new job opportunities and helped me see my own potential.
And then came the existential crisis. Stu also introduced me to behaviour-driven development, which sparked a passion for advocating for the end users. That led me down the path of quitting my job, moving to another country, going back to school to study design, and eventually changing my career. Through every one of those challenges, Stu was there, asking the right questions, helping me think, and guiding me to make decisions that aligned with my values and goals.
Still to date, when I feel lost or I feel I have hit the ceiling of what's possible, he helps me identify where I could make an impact. He challenged my assumptions, provided a framework, and helped me expand my sense of what was possible, connecting me with his network when he didn't have the answer. And this is on top of all the resumes, cover letters, and proposals he helped me edit, which helped me redefine my purpose in the process.
The biggest impact Stu has had on me, though, is by being an example of compassionate leadership with leading with empathy, integrity, and an unmatched moral compass. I’ve witnessed countless moments of how deeply he cares for the people around him, even when it requires personal sacrifice.
If you’re ever lucky enough to have a conversation with Stu, take it. It might just change your life.
- Bahareh Saboktakin, Senior Design Technologist Senior Design Technologist, Amazon
Curious whether this is the right support for you?
Let’s have a short, no-pressure conversation about where you are, what you want to be different, and whether Leading with Quality is the right container for your next season of growth.
COMPANY
CUSTOMER CARE
LEGAL
FOLLOW ME
Copyright 2026. Leading with Quality. All Rights Reserved.