Humans of justDice – Maria, QA & Support Manager

Multilingual Maria Behind justDice’s Support and QA

Our team here at justDice is a blend of fun and professional. And that’s what these posts aim to unlock. We want the Humans of justDice features to focus on getting to know the people and minds behind the scenes. We’ll get to know a different team member every month, giving you an exclusive look into how we work together here at justDice 🙂 

In our latest edition of ‘Humans of justDice’, we have the pleasure of introducing Maria Giachgia, our talented Quality Assurance and Support Manager. From the sun-soaked Greek shores to striving for the perfect user experience, her story highlights the importance of perspective, adaptability, and passion in the rapidly evolving mobile gaming landscape. 

Dive in to learn about her diverse experiences, transition into QA testing, and her passions within and beyond the walls of justDice.

Q1: First off, could you introduce us to Maria?

🗣️ Maria, Greek, lived briefly in different countries and ended up in Hamburg, and I have been living here for 5 years now. I started working at justDice about two years ago in customer support. Customer support is a career that has gotten me to many places, but originally, my education was in translation. I speak 4 (and a half, counting German) languages. I recently pivoted my career towards QA testing, and I find this new path intriguing.

Q2: What makes justDice unique compared to others you have worked for?

justDice is fun. Truly, though, not in a corporate soul-dead way. I like that I can share genuine feedback, my colleagues are good people, we face issues in a light-hearted way, and there is no culture of rivalry or competition. It is a plus that we also do fun things together, like treasure hunts, escape rooms, and BBQs.

Q3: Now that you’ve been with us for two years, what has been one of your biggest accomplishments so far?

Getting into QA. It is my first time working in this field, and I am grateful for the opportunity and guidance to do it (shout-out to my team lead, Dmitriy and our lead QA manager, Wade, who walked me through everything like a true Jedi Master). Good things can happen when there is room to try out ideas and support from your team.

Q4: How did you move from customer service to QA, and what inspired it?

It was the user’s perspective. It started as a means to master all product features and aspects and to get into the actual user experience. I consider this the best way to understand the user’s perspective; you need to get in the user’s shoes and see for yourself. It helps me contribute to products with better user experience and customer support. 

Q5: Understanding the player’s experience is essential in mobile gaming. How has your time in customer service set you up with a perspective for QA on our games?

I think the above answer covers this one, too. My time in customer support gave me insights on what can be improved for the users, and QA allowed me to test these insights and bring forward more solid suggestions.

Q6: And now, the real fun part: What is one thing you cannot live without?

Romantic answer: All the things that fill me with joy, be it books, music, video games and other stuff in that direction. The realistic answer: Vitamin D (preferably from the Greek sun while on the seaside), and for the sake of everyone around me, coffee. 

Q7: What’s a fun fact about you that many people may not know?

It is not really a secret, but I am not a morning person.