Katrina McNicholl: Why ‘Give it a Go’ is More than a Motto at TTC Global

Thanks to her extensive experience leading enterprise digital transformation and large-scale quality assurance, Katrina McNicholl is no stranger to driving powerful outcomes. Now, six weeks into her new role as General Manager – Southern Region at TTC Global, she’s bringing that same energy to our South Island team.

“We are constantly looking at the business outcome first. We work back from there before we even think of aligning the best analyst for that project,” Katrina says. It’s a mindset that reflects both her consultancy background and TTC Global’s approach to software quality.

We recently sat down with Katrina to discuss her journey so far, her passion for partnerships, and why joining a proud Kiwi-founded company was the best next step for her career journey.

You joined TTC Global from Foodstuffs, one of its customers. Was it a hunger for new challenges that inspired the move or the chance to explore a different side of the table?

Katrina: That’s a brilliant way to put it. After nine and a half years at Foodstuffs, I left with a full heart. Some of my greatest achievements happened there; we built a mature quality practice from scratch. When I joined, there were just three testers and no tools or processes. At one point we had 31 analysts delivering some of the most ambitious SAP transformations in New Zealand. This, I am very proud of.

But my roots are in consultancy. I’ve always thrived on variety, new teams, different clients, constantly evolving technology. At Foodstuffs, I initially thought I was parking myself for five years while my son finished high school in Christchurch. Those five years turned into nearly a decade! I was ready to get back to my passion.

What made TTC Global the right next step?

Katrina: I didn’t go looking. I was planning a short break, some time with my son on the Gold Coast, and maybe a contract job to wrap up the year. When I learned Judy McKay, my predecessor as GM South Island, announced her retirement, I jumped at the chance to apply for this exciting role, feeling the timing was perfect. Honestly, I feel like I've come home.

Had you heard of TTC Global before?

Katrina: Not when I was working for other consultancies, no. TTC Global wasn’t active in the South Island then, and I was immersed in my work with another consultancy. I first worked with TTC Global through Foodstuffs when we rolled out Tricentis’s Tosca Test Automation tool, which SAP had introduced to us. TTC was a key partner in making the Tosca implementation a success, helping our team build a solid automation solution for our South Island Foodstuffs supermarket point-of-sale. Fast forward to 2024, when we needed six analysts for a major SAP supply chain transformation, TTC Global provided us with exceptional people, and several of them are still working on that project today, over a year later.

Funny story, when I first worked with TTC Global and Tricentis delivering Foodstuffs’ Tosca test automation tool, I didn’t even realise at the time that Grant Borrie, who was helping me hands-on, was one of TTC Global’s founders. I didn’t know he was ‘the man’. To me, he was just ‘one of the boys’. That says something about the culture here, no big egos, just a real willingness to roll up sleeves and help. That sense of humility and community is something I really value.

What excites you most about your new role as GM for the South Island?

Katrina: The freedom to be creative. I want to make the South Island business the most trusted and preferred quality engineering consultancy firm. I’m passionate about growing a team that not only delivers results for our clients but also supports each other’s career development. We want to reach every client from Nelson to Bluff and deliver consistently excellent outcomes, no matter their geographic location.

What’s your vision for TTC Global’s presence in the region?

Katrina: It’s all about partnership. I don’t want TTC Global to be seen as an external vendor; I want us to be an extension of our client’s business. We aim to work smart together, achieve shared success, and support our clients well beyond just testing. That includes building long-lasting frameworks for quality engineering, not just testing shiny new applications and walking away.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities in QE and testing in the South Island right now?

Katrina: There’s real momentum. The South Island’s diverse economy, from manufacturing and agriculture to tourism, is embracing digital transformation. As more businesses move to the cloud, test automation is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity. But with that shift comes a need for smarter, earlier testing and frameworks that evolve with the business.

What are the main challenges companies face when it comes to quality engineering?

Katrina: Underestimating the effort, value and importance of software testing. Too many organisations wait until the end, when it’s too late or too costly to address issues properly. We encourage testing early, testing with purpose, and always with the delivery outcome in focus. Transparency is critical, you’re only as good as the information you share. Data-led, visual reports are the tools that empower businesses to make smart decisions about risk, timing, and user impact.

You said earlier, “We are not a body shop.” What do you mean by that?

Katrina: That’s something I’m very passionate about. We don’t just assign someone because they happen to be available. We start with the business problem, the desired outcome, and then find the right analyst with the right experience, technology background, and even geographic understanding to meet that need. It’s never about filling a seat, it’s always about building success, together.

How does TTC Global balance global reach with local needs?

Katrina: We may be global, but our leadership is deeply accessible. The executive team is visible, involved, and passionate. We all share the same drive to be the best at our craft and to create meaningful impact for our clients. That mindset of showing up and saying “let’s give it a go” is something that resonates everywhere, whether you’re in Christchurch or Chicago.

Do you collaborate with other technology partners in the region?

Katrina: Absolutely. Collaboration is everything. We work with data specialists like Data Domain and cybersecurity firms, depending on client needs. No one organisation can do it all, and nor should they try. By partnering, we bring together the right skills at the right time, so our clients don’t have to figure it out alone.

Last question—what did your previous roles teach you that you now bring to TTC Global?

Katrina: It taught me the value of communication, consistency, and continuous learning. A good analyst doesn’t just test, they uncover insights and share them clearly and honestly. And they don’t do it alone. One of the hardest things about leaving Foodstuffs South Island was leaving my phenomenal QE team, we were family, they were the best!!… We’re all only as strong as the team around us. That’s why people-first will always be my philosophy, because when we grow together, we deliver together.