Automation and manual testing in QA are just two approaches(methodologies) we use to do our work and verify the quality of a product.
Real QA is more than that.
It also includes writing documentation, joining calls, communicating with clients and developers, understanding the business needs, and asking the right questions. I still firmly believe that QA is the bridge between business, development, and management.
When QA is done right, it includes all of these things and much more — not just writing automated tests.
QA is ultimately about ownership and responsibility. It’s about caring enough to challenge decisions, protect the end users, raise uncomfortable questions, and stand behind product quality even when it is not easy or popular. Tools change, frameworks change, but this attitude is what makes a real QA engineer a professional one.