From professional football pitches to complex transformation programmes, Emma Beckett’s journey isn’t your typical route into tech.

We sat down with Emma — testing specialist, former professional athlete, and founder of a growing consultancy — to explore how she developed her career in software testing, built a business from the ground up, and brought a sporting mindset into the world of transformation.

What stood out most wasn’t just Emma’s experience across ERP, CRM, and HCM platforms, but her perspective: practical, people-focused, and grounded in real delivery.

Here are a few reflections from our conversation that we think are worth sharing:

1. Testing isn’t a phase — it’s a mindset

One of the biggest misconceptions Emma highlighted is that testing is something you “do at the end.” In reality, it should be embedded from the very beginning. From reviewing documentation to shaping design decisions, early testing can save significant time, cost, and risk.

Her perspective was clear: bringing testers into the conversation earlier means you don’t just find problems, you prevent them.

2. Curiosity is the most underrated skill in tech

When asked what makes a great tester, Emma highlighted curiosity over tools or certifications.

The ability to question, dig deeper, and not take things at face value is what separates good from great. It’s about thinking beyond what’s in front of you and being willing to challenge assumptions, a skill that applies far beyond testing.

3. Not everyone can test — and that’s okay

There’s often an assumption on projects that “anyone can test.” Emma challenged this.

Great testing requires a unique blend of analytical thinking, attention to detail, and cross-functional understanding. Testers often sit at the centre of delivery — part analyst, part problem-solver, part strategist. Treating it as a checkbox activity undervalues its true impact.

4. Sport shapes how you show up in business

Emma’s football career clearly left its mark. From resilience and discipline to teamwork and handling pressure, the parallels between sport and consulting are clear.

She described testers as “central midfielders”, connecting everything, anticipating what’s coming next, and keeping things moving. That ability to read the game, whether on the pitch or in a programme, is invaluable.

5. Leadership is evolving – and deeply personal

Now leading her own consultancy, Emma spoke openly about what leadership means to her. It’s not fixed. It’s something you continuously learn and refine.

For her, it comes down to intention: showing up for your team, creating the right environments, and being accountable when things go wrong. It’s about balancing high standards with empathy and recognising that people need different things to succeed.

6. Building something of your own takes courage

Emma’s move into contracting — and eventually building her own business — wasn’t without risk. From convincing her parents she wasn’t “completely mad” to backing herself early in her career, it required a level of belief that many people struggle to find.

But her approach was simple: invest in yourself, build multiple skillsets, and take the opportunity when it’s there.

7. Representation and advocacy still matter

Having worked in two traditionally male-dominated environments — football and tech — Emma shared the importance of both resilience and support.

While she credits strong mentors and allies throughout her career, she also highlighted the need for women to back themselves, step forward, and not wait until they feel 100% ready.

Her advice: You’ve probably already done the hard part — now keep going.

This episode was a reminder that careers don’t have to follow a fixed path and that the skills we build along the way often matter more than the roles themselves.

🎧 You can listen to the full episode on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search D365 Insights by Source & Connect.