Barbara Deaton
SAS Institute, Sr. Software Manager
About
I am a Senior Manager of Software Development at SAS, where I lead a cross-functional team spanning development and testing with heavy collaboration with R&D teams across the globe. In 1994 I began my career as an intern test engineer at DataDirect, testing ODBC drivers and OLE DB providers, where I continued upon graduation. I graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Meredith College in 1997, I joined SAS in 1999 as a development tester. Over the years, I have grown in leadership roles—first managing testing teams, then directing development, DevOps, and testing groups. My career reflects a deep commitment to software quality, team growth, and delivering impactful products.
Connect
From Quality Metrics to Quality Mindset: Building Teams That Own Outcomes
Description
Software teams often rely on metrics, dashboards, and defined processes to guide quality efforts. While these tools provide important visibility, they don’t automatically create ownership, accountability, or better outcomes. In many cases, teams learn to optimize for the numbers rather than the intent behind them.
This session explores how quality outcomes are shaped less by tools and processes and more by leadership behaviors and team mindset. Drawing from experience in software testing and people leadership, the talk examines how well-meaning management practices can unintentionally reinforce “check-the-box” behavior, and what leaders can do differently to build teams that truly own quality.
Participants will explore:
Why quality challenges are often rooted in leadership and communication gaps.
How metrics can shift from helpful signals to counterproductive targets.
Common ways leaders unintentionally discourage ownership.
Practical leadership behaviors that promote clarity, accountability, and proactive thinking
Rather than introducing new frameworks or methodologies, this session focuses on small, intentional leadership shifts that can have an outsized impact on team behavior. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas they can apply immediately to move teams from compliance-driven execution to shared ownership of outcomes.