Championing Adaptability: Meet Abbee Day

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey.

I joined GoDaddy over 13 years ago as a Quality Analyst, now known as a Quality Engineer/SDET (Software Development Engineer in test). With just 3 months of website testing experience and none in test automation, I was passionate about quality and usability. I was assigned to the Internal Tools team, which develops the applications used by GoDaddy Care to support customers. I feel fortunate to be part of this team and have worked with many remarkable people who continually push me to excel and have supported my growth into a Senior Engineering Manager.

What real-life problems does your team solve?

My team develops the main applications utilized by the GoDaddy Care organization to securely access data and help support our customers. Our applications provide real-time data and communication integrations to help our entrepreneurs succeed. As the landscape of software development and security has changed, our applications have adapted and adjusted over time. We have evolved from a desktop application to a seamless, cloud-based, set of web applications, all while consistently providing 100% uptime. One manager equated evolving to rebuilding the airplane while it is in flight. Yes, we have experienced our share of turbulence, learning so much along the way, and we've landed successfully every time thanks to the dedication and skills of the entire team.

What's the most challenging, yet rewarding thing that you've worked on at GoDaddy?

One of the unique features of our applications is that the majority of our data is sourced from partner teams, which presents many challenges around reliability and data fidelity as the company changes. Automation testing is ideal here. With the right tools, support, and a team of Quality Engineers, I developed and implemented a robust functional and end-to-end test automation platform built into the CI/CD pipeline. This platform improved the overall quality of the team's applications and assisted the Software Engineers to accelerate time to delivery while detecting changes with our partners early.

What advice would you give to aspiring Software Developers looking to advance in their careers?

I have two pieces of advice. First, be adaptable.

The tech industry evolves quickly, and company priorities change often. Being able to adjust swiftly makes you a valuable team member.

Second, step out of your comfort zone and embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. They can lead to unexpected and rewarding career paths.

I never set out to be a manager. As a matter of fact, I am an introvert of the highest degree. I faced imposter syndrome at first, and transitioning from an individual contributor to a manager was challenging. With numerous trials, errors, and support from my team, I've grown into a competent manager. Each day, I learn more about myself and my team, driving our collective success.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I love to visit new places, especially national parks, and I am an accomplished road-trip planner! My husband and I have explored 46 US states and some international locales stopping at over 100 national park sites at home and abroad. I find that being off the beaten path is the best place to find the unexpected. My other passion is landscape photography with an affinity for capturing nighttime and monsoons. One of my proudest photographic moments, was the night I captured a particularly explosive monsoon storm over the Phoenix valley. The photograph was featured in the AZ Republic and on the national CBS News! When I'm stuck inside, you'll find me solving some sort of puzzle or building Legos. I am such a Lego fan I use them for most of my selfies, because their hair is always perfect!

What's your motto or personal mantra?

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." - Henry David Thoreau and "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." - Norman Vincent Peale

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• TikTok
• Career Page