As a realistic dreamer with a thirst for knowledge, Cezar has been in Endava for 6 years and is now a Development Lead in Iasi. He has worked on a variety of technical projects, both simple and complex, but his drive and energy come from being a Career Coach and a Line Manager. Curious to find out how a technical background blends with the dedication toward guiding others on their career paths? Find out in Cezar’s story.  

Describe your professional path within the company.

My roller coaster journey started roughly 6 years ago as a Junior Developer and continues today as a Development Lead. I had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, ranging from simple to complex, one person to 30+ people, from "legacy" to "greenfield".

One of the most challenging projects spanned for over a year and a half. It meant turning a proof of concept into a production ready application, offering both complexity and a lot of freedom, all within tight deadlines. Each milestone meant additional budget and higher confidence towards the finished product. Apart from the technical challenge, maybe a far more important factor was the human factor, as it required synchronisation between teams across a 9-hour time difference.

The one-weekend proof of concept finally received the full vote of confidence from the investors and contributed to a finished product that now improves energy consumption and ensures cost efficiency with the potential of having an impact on millions of people. This was a valuable lesson for me, as things may seem impossible at the first glance, but thinking everything through and taking small steps often helps to overcome great challenges. 

Along the way I came across a lot of opportunities to learn from those around me, as well as to pass on part of my knowledge to others. Endava offered me the perfect environment to build my confidence and speak up. Whether in internal sessions or even presenting at conferences such as Codecamp, I dare to say that I no longer suffer from stage fright as much as I did years back.

As a technical and final interviewer, I’ve been able to develop my communication skills, because over time I’ve interacted with all kinds of people with diverse professional and personal backgrounds. 

Tell us about what drives you at Endava.

The main driver for me is definitely the thirst for knowledge. From a technical perspective, this means experimenting with various technologies and ideas within the projects where I work, not settling for “safe” but analysing the pros and cons for the best outcome.

Also, being a Line Manager and Career Coach contributes to my joy of working because I am able to accompany others on their career paths, as they unfold, helping them become better professionals and team members through self-discovery.

How would your colleagues describe you in one sentence?

A realistic dreamer.

What advice would you give yourself if you were starting work at Endava today?

Think of something that you want, aim high, but take baby steps, then be the best that you can be every day, and inevitably you will get what you want from any situation.

Tell us more about yourself outside of work.

In the long run, I’d like to live somewhere near the ocean, but in the meantime I’m planning on traveling more. I want to visit Japan, cross the US by Route 66 and ride the Trans-Siberian train.

Last but not least, tell us how your passions have contributed to your day-to-day job.

I put the same passion into my work as into the things outside of it because I love my job and the field of software engineering. I am far from perfect but I strive to be better every day. I fully live in the present, learning as much as I can from past experiences while glimpsing at the future with confidence.