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How Optimum turned Forbes’ QA function into a well-oiled machine
Forbes • Autonomous IT Operations • North America
From test automation to high-stakes releases, Forbes trusts Optimum for 90 percent of QA headcount — and complete ownership of delivery.
Disjointed QA function split across vendors, low trust in process, shifting frameworks
Proactive team that invested in tooling, adopted internal processes, and rebuilt QA ownership from the ground up
Optimum became Forbes’ sole QA partner, owns 90 percent of the QA headcount, and helped restore trust org-wide
Context
Ronak Ray joined Forbes in 2019 as the first in-house QA team member. At the time, QA was fully outsourced between two vendors — Optimum Partners and another firm. Ronak’s mission was clear: streamline the QA function and build a team the rest of the org could trust.
It didn’t take long to decide which vendor to move forward with.
“There’s no difference between a Forbes employee and an Optimum employee for us. We don’t consider them separate at all — they’re part of the team.”
Challenge
Ronak inherited a QA organization with two problems: scattered vendors and a lack of internal credibility. There was also technical complexity. A new test automation framework had just been adopted, but Ronak quickly saw it would not be sustainable.
Switching frameworks meant rewriting everything. Optimum Partners did it without hesitation.
“They understood our business needs and started asking the right questions from day one.”
That mindset — proactive, flexible, and outcome-oriented — became the reason Optimum Partners was chosen as the sole QA partner.
Solution
Within months, Optimum became fully embedded. They worked across brands, adopted Forbes’ tools, and aligned with engineering and DevOps teams directly. Today, they account for 90 percent of QA headcount.
Their flexibility showed up everywhere. When Forbes integrated a new subscription system, Optimum’s team stayed online overnight — without being asked — to ensure a smooth release.
When the company launched high-profile projects like the Billionaires list and 30 Under 30, the team adapted under pressure, collaborated seamlessly, and delivered with calm urgency.
And when a critical cookie consent integration faced a tricky bug, an Optimum engineer solved it over the weekend — just because it needed solving.
“They always go above and beyond. That trait hasn’t changed in four years.”
Outcome
- QA backlog resolved
- Frameworks stabilized
- Trust rebuilt across teams
- 90 percent of QA team now run by Optimum
- Forbes engineers now see QA as subject matter experts
Optimum’s consistency gave Ronak the space to take on more. With QA functioning independently, he expanded his role to lead Technical Project Management as well.
“I don’t need to tell them what to do or how to do it. The group is a well-oiled machine.”
“I never have to worry about people management or conflict resolution because Optimum Partners is always pleasant to work with. The camaraderie between consultant and employee adds so much value to what we get.”
— Ronak Ray, Head of QA and Technical Project Management, Forbes
“I never have to worry about people management or conflict resolution because Optimum Partners is always pleasant to work with. The camaraderie between consultant and employee adds so much value to what we get.”
— Ronak Ray, Head of QA and Technical Project Management, Forbes
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