App maker spotlight: Sabrina Papes, Director of QA

[Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles about app makers, highlighting talented team members who embody the builder mindset at ArcTouch, and how they find creative new ways to apply the latest technology to our projects.]

When Sabrina Papes was growing up, she had a front-row seat to what true leadership looks like. Her father went from living on the streets as a young boy to funding her education by working five jobs at once. Then, at age 60, he passed the bar exam to become a lawyer. He led every phase of his life with fierce determination, deep respect, and empathy for others — qualities that stayed with Sabrina even after he passed away from cancer shortly before she joined ArcTouch.

That legacy defined Sabrina’s own path. Starting her career 18 years ago as a computer engineer and developer, she knew early on that her ultimate ambition was to lead people. To become the kind of manager who makes sound, empathetic decisions, she deliberately pivoted from development into Quality Assurance (QA) to master the full end-to-end product lifecycle.

Today, as Director of QA at ArcTouch, Sabrina leads a 25-person team known across the agency for technical excellence, empathy, and AI maturity. Off the clock, she is a competitive Taekwondo champion and a passionate advocate for neurodiversity — a journey sparked when her own autism diagnosis followed those of her two children.

We sat down with Sabrina to talk about her career arc, carrying her father’s name into her work, and how neurodiversity and martial arts shape her leadership.

I make sure that everything we build at ArcTouch delivers the best possible experience for the user — whether that's an app, a website, or a game. That means focusing heavily on usability, accessibility, and inclusion so that every product works seamlessly for everyone.

It goes back to my father. He was an amazing leader who guided people with immense respect and treated everyone like family. Growing up, I naturally took on responsibility. Even in college, I was very involved in student government. And early in my career, I realized that while I could write code or find bugs, my greatest value was helping people grow, supporting teams, and giving them the confidence to succeed.

I realized that to be a leader who makes confident decisions, you have to understand the whole process. I had seen leaders make choices that frustrated technical teams because they lacked a grounding in how software is tested and delivered. Moving into QA gave me that broad, end-to-end perspective, which gave me immense confidence in my choices as a manager.

QA is about caring for the entire product — and leadership is about caring for the whole person. Behind every project, there are people with personal lives, histories, and families. When you treat people as individuals rather than "resources" and give them a safe environment where they feel heard, they become deeply engaged and independent.

My father was my biggest supporter. He went from living on the streets as a boy to building a career through pure grit and education. At one point, he worked five jobs just to pay for my English classes because he believed learning a second language would open doors for me. Later in life, at age 60, he passed the bar exam and became a lawyer to give legal support to people in need.

When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I legally changed my last name to his — Papes. ArcTouch was the first workplace where I used that name. Every time someone calls me "Papes," it feels like a tribute to him and his hard work living on through me.

I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. When my original contract had to be paused during the pandemic, I felt no despair. Shortly after, my father received his diagnosis, and I realized that gap was a gift. It allowed me to be fully present with him during his final months. When I reconnected with ArcTouch later, the company showed so much kindness and empathy toward what I had been through. I knew then that this was where I was meant to be.

Receiving the diagnosis wasn't a shock — it was a confirmation. As a child, I always felt different. It was hard for me to make friends, understand jokes, or handle sudden routine changes. When my son was diagnosed ten years ago, I researched everything to give him the best life possible, and I started recognizing those same traits in myself.

At work, being neurodivergent is actually an asset. It allows me to separate emotional noise from rational decision-making, which makes handling complex challenges much cleaner. 

Absolutely. Martial arts teach core values — discipline, focus, mental toughness, and self-confidence. Facing high-pressure situations on the mat directly prepares me to handle challenges, adapt quickly, and stay calm under pressure in my professional life.

AI is a powerful supportive tool, but it is not a source of truth. It changes how we work, but the final judgment always rests with us. I encourage my team to embrace AI while continuing to sharpen their own technical expertise and critical thinking. You still need human domain knowledge to ensure AI is moving in the right direction.

My success is the success of the people on my team. Every time someone calls me to say a QA analyst did an incredible job, or when our team is recognized for being ahead of the curve, that's my success. It tells me the team is mature, independent, and thriving.

A lovable workplace is one where you can genuinely be yourself, perform with confidence, and work alongside people you admire. It's a place where everyone is heard and respected, regardless of their title, age, or tenure. Our lovable ArcTouch environment is what motivates me to deliver my best every day.