Six years at Zoonou and four years in Growth - reflections on a formative chapter

Jade joined Zoonou early in her QA career, and like many of our people, she was hired for her potential and attitude as much as her experience - going on to build her skills with us over time.

During her six years with us, Jade’s helped shape how we work. She’s been a co-chair of our employee council and regularly shared ideas to improve how things were done - a reflection of the curiosity, ownership, and care she brings to everything.

Alongside that, Jade’s spent the last four years working closely with the Toca Boca Growth team as part of an embedded way of working that blurred the lines between internal and external teams, becoming a deeply collaborative and meaningful part of her day-to-day role.

It’s a way of working we really believe in - being part of our clients’ team, not just working alongside it - and Jade’s experience is a great example of what that can look like in practice.

Below, Jade reflects on her time at Zoonou, specifically around her work within the Toca Boca team.

Finding a place in Growth

After six years with Zoonou, and working on Toca Boca, I find it difficult to collate all the words needed to sum up just how amazing my time has been. For more than four of those years, I was given the opportunity to be embedded with the Toca Boca team in a role that grew into something much more meaningful than I could have expected. It became a home for me - where I’ve grown professionally, built long lasting friendships and learnt the true meaning of collaboration.

I've been part of the Growth team, focusing on the shop experience and A/B experimentation. I’ve found this area to be constantly challenging, allowing me to think differently whilst challenging others and being challenged, in an environment that welcomes change. I've learnt how to ask questions about not just what we're creating, but why we're creating it and what our desired outcome is.

What made this client experience special? 

The team. I can honestly say they are the most supportive, creative, and fun group of people I’ve had the privilege to work with. There’s something rare about being in an environment where people genuinely enjoy collaborating, where ideas are encouraged, and where everyone is invested in making things better, not just for the product, but for each other.

One of the most valuable parts of being embedded like this is how it blurs the traditional lines between “external” and “internal”. You’re not just delivering work into a team - you become part of how that team thinks, plans and improves together. That level of trust changes the quality of collaboration on both sides.

Working across disciplines

It’s also meant working across such a wide range of crafts - from designers and artists to developers, producers, QA, customer support, and insights and research. Every collaboration brought a new perspective and reinforced how important it is to break out of functional silos and truly work together to create something worthwhile.

Being embed full-time was a real turning point for me. It gave me the chance to contribute more deeply and feel like a core part of the team rather than someone on the outside looking in – while still bringing an external perspective that could challenge assumptions and help sharpen thinking.

Growth, impact and craft

In my role, I’ve taken on responsibilities like running team tests, managing acceptance criteria, and leading test planning. But beyond the tasks themselves, I’ve tried to bring energy, positivity, and a sense of fun into the work. It’s something I’ve consistently been recognised for, and it’s something I care about; because the way we work together matters just as much as what we deliver.

One piece of feedback that’s really stuck with me came from a developer who said I was the best QA they’d worked with at the company during their time there. Moments like that are incredibly rewarding, not just as validation, but as a reminder that the effort you put into collaboration, communication, and care doesn’t go unnoticed.

What I'll take forward

Looking back, this experience has shaped how I see my role, my work, and the kind of teams I want to be part of. It’s shown me the impact a great team setup can have - not just on a product, but on the people within it and how they work together day to day.

And if there’s one thing I’ll take forward, it’s that great work happens when great people come together, support each other, and aren’t afraid to challenge each other, learn from one another, and have a whole load of fun along the way.

From all of us at Zoonou

We’re incredibly proud of Jade and her journey with us - not just in her client work, but in the way she’s contributed to Zoonou itself as a co-owner. Whether through her time on the employee council, her openness to improve how we work, or the care she’s shown in every team she’s been part of, she’s consistently demonstrated what it means to take ownership and help shape something better.

We can’t wait to see what she does next.