Team Spotlight: Will Chen on 13 Years with XBOSoft

A Career Shaped by Quality

Will Chen is a seasoned project manager and one of XBOSoft’s longest-serving team members. As he looks ahead to his 13th year with the company, his journey illustrates both the evolution of software testing as a profession and the values that define XBOSoft’s culture. Colleagues know him as a trusted mentor, often described as an “uncle” figure within the team.

“I was born in the 20th century, but would be a worker in the 21st,” Will reflects. “If anything spoke to me about the future, it was technology.”

Finding the Right Fit

Will studied computer science at Inner Mongolia Normal University. The degree gave him strong theoretical grounding, but he soon realized coding itself was not where he wanted to focus. “I liked working with software, but not so much the coding behind its creation. It seemed to me that QA was the perfect match.”

At the time, many of his classmates were focused on joining major corporations such as IBM, Apple, or HP. Will made a different choice. “For me, the idea of working for a small startup was more appealing. The work could be more challenging, interesting, and satisfying. A successful career is not just about making money.”

That decision brought him to XBOSoft when it was still a small but growing company. “It was a very creative environment, open to sharing opinions and ideas. The company really promoted teamwork and a family culture.”

Building Skills Through Experience

In his years at XBOSoft, Will has developed broad expertise across QA and testing disciplines. Today, he is focused on performance testing and project management. “Performance testing is not something you can just learn from a book,” he says. “It takes time and effort to do well. You need to know the tools, the product, and user scenarios to get meaningful results.”

One of the projects he recalls most fondly is the QA and testing partnership with CA Nimsoft, a Fortune 500 client. “I was responsible for managing the QA and testing from Beijing while coordinating with developers in the US. During this project, I was given a project manager position to lead people for the first time. I had the responsibility to build up the team from the beginning, and we grew into an amazing group of people.”

The partnership lasted many years. “It was a big learning experience for me, especially in management and communication. I still think about those lessons today.”

Memories and Culture

When asked about favorite XBOSoft memories, Will does not hesitate to mention team-building trips. “We had an outing in Inner Mongolia where we stayed in the desert. It was a difficult environment, but we all pulled through by helping and working together. Experiences like that really build our company culture.”

For him, the culture is as important as the technical work. “Software QA and testing is very satisfying work. Our clients really appreciate how we make their software better. Knowing that we’ve had a positive impact on their product and business is a good thing.”

Focused on Quality

Looking back, Will believes XBOSoft’s focus is what makes it distinctive. “We do only one thing — software testing, so we are 100% focused on making software quality better.”

And when asked if he would recommend XBOSoft to a friend, his answer is simple: “Of course.”