Richard Seidl keynote speaker software testing on stage

Are we still testing the right way today?

This keynote shows why teams that test differently deliver faster and sleep better at night. 25 years of practice. No textbook.

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Why event organizers book Richie

Not the speaker who shows up, performs, and leaves. One who knows the topic from the inside.

25+ Years in Software Testing

Richie knows the topic from the inside: from projects, teams, and crises, not from a textbook.

Podcast with 200+ Episodes

The software testing podcast with 300,000+ downloads. Staying current is not a promise, it is part of his practice.

8 Technical Books

Author of 8 books on software quality and testing. Richie speaks not from theory, but from lived practice.

Keynote Software Testing

What really occupies testing conferences

Not buzzwords. The real questions that get asked during coffee breaks.

Testing as byproduct, not as afterthought

Early feedback changes everything. In many teams, testing still happens right before release. The result: expensive bugs, late-stage stress, declining quality. How do you get out of that loop?

AI is fundamentally changing testing

Test automation, AI-assisted bug analysis, generated test cases: the tools are changing faster than teams can keep up. Which of these is genuine progress, which is hype?

Quality belongs to no one

Developers say: testers' job. Testers say: needs to go through review. Management says: you need to align. How does quality become a shared attitude, not shared blame?

What your audience takes away

Three impulses testing teams can apply right away

Impulse 1

Software Quality in Transition

How software testing is changing in times of AI, cloud, and continuous delivery. And why quality matters more today than ever.

Impulse 2

AI in Software Testing

How artificial intelligence is reshaping testing: from test generation to intelligent test automation to AI-assisted quality analysis.

Impulse 3

Testing Culture and Mindset

Why quality is not a department but a mindset. How teams can establish a culture of quality and sustain it long-term.

Program

From status quo to concrete take-aways

Not an overview talk. Each section delivers an argument that can be discussed in the team.

1
Status Quo
Where does software testing stand today? An honest look at current challenges, trends, and the gap between aspiration and reality.
2
Technology and Practice
Concrete examples and live demos: how modern tools and AI are changing testing, practical and immediately applicable.
3
Impulses for Action
Every keynote ends with concrete take-aways that your team can implement right away. Quality is not an accident, it is an attitude.

Keynote Topic

Software Testing Excellence: Quality as a Competitive Advantage

In this keynote, Richie shows how teams that test differently deliver faster and sleep better at night.

Richard Seidl on stage, Software Testing Excellence keynote

About the Speaker

25 Years of Practical Experience in Software Testing

Richie has not just written about testing, he has done it: as a tester, test manager, coach, and consultant in real projects. What he says on stage comes from genuine experience, not from textbooks. Awarded the German Prize for Software Quality (DPSQ) 2025. Author of 8 technical books. Host of the Software Testing Podcast with 300,000+ downloads.

Richard Seidl, keynote speaker software testing, portrait

Event Organizer Feedback

What Event Organizers Say

Feedback from conferences and events where Richard Seidl has appeared as a keynote speaker.

"Richard Seidl is the person who gives truly moving talks when it comes to technology, digitalization, and what it means to be human. He has a gift for stirring something in his audience that keeps res…"

Julia Schmitz CEO Logo-Institut, Speaker Trainer, Speaker

"When Richard Seidl takes the stage, technology and IT suddenly appear in a completely different light: exciting, charismatic, opening up new worlds. I instantly turn into a digitalization fan. That's…"

Alexandra Kampmeier Practice for Perspective Change

"Richard has already spoken twice at our Accenture-hosted Testing Nights, and each time he impressed with his expertise and won the audience over straight away with his relaxed style. Looking forward t…"

Annette Niederberger Accenture, Testing Nights Organizer

"Richard is the most likeable tech person in the world, and he manages to win over everyone, whether they're skeptical, overwhelmed, or already fascinated by digitalization. He cuts through what seems…"

Katja Schäfer Leadership Expert for IT, Public Sector, Healthcare

"An incredible depth of expertise paired with the art of creative communication. I've rarely seen anyone who presents complex topics in a way that's equally engaging for both laypersons and experts. Se…"

Diana Lammerts Founder & Überblick Strategist, TV-Radio Host, Author

"Richard Seidl is the person who gives truly moving talks when it comes to technology, digitalization, and what it means to be human. He has a gift for stirring something in his audience that keeps res…"

Julia Schmitz CEO Logo-Institut, Speaker Trainer, Speaker

"When Richard Seidl takes the stage, technology and IT suddenly appear in a completely different light: exciting, charismatic, opening up new worlds. I instantly turn into a digitalization fan. That's…"

Alexandra Kampmeier Practice for Perspective Change

"Richard has already spoken twice at our Accenture-hosted Testing Nights, and each time he impressed with his expertise and won the audience over straight away with his relaxed style. Looking forward t…"

Annette Niederberger Accenture, Testing Nights Organizer

"Richard is the most likeable tech person in the world, and he manages to win over everyone, whether they're skeptical, overwhelmed, or already fascinated by digitalization. He cuts through what seems…"

Katja Schäfer Leadership Expert for IT, Public Sector, Healthcare

"An incredible depth of expertise paired with the art of creative communication. I've rarely seen anyone who presents complex topics in a way that's equally engaging for both laypersons and experts. Se…"

Diana Lammerts Founder & Überblick Strategist, TV-Radio Host, Author

Questions About the Software Testing Keynote

What you want to know before booking.

What conference formats work well for this keynote?

Primarily for testing conferences, developer conferences with a quality focus, and quality engineering events. As an opener (setting the topic), closer (handing out impulses for action), or middle piece (shift in perspective after a technical block). The keynote speaks to testers, developers, and tech leads alike. Domain knowledge is assumed, but no ISTQB certificate is required.

How technical is the keynote? Does it work for a mixed audience?

The keynote is technically grounded but not a tool demo. Testers will nod, developers will draw surprising connections, tech leads will find language for their team development. For a purely business audience without an IT background, 'Software Testing Excellence' is not the first choice. For that, there is 'The Future Optimist'.

Are different time formats available?

Yes: 30 to 60 minutes, with or without Q&A. We discuss the best format in the first conversation, depending on your program structure and audience size.

Richard Seidl with coffee, talking about software testing

All Keynotes by Richard Seidl

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Software Testing Podcast

Richard Seidl talks about software quality, testing trends, and the mindset behind them in his podcast. Direct, practice-oriented, and without fluff. 200+ episodes, 300,000+ downloads.

To the Podcast