When people say a lot can change in a decade, they’re not exaggerating. For Svetozar Toza Pavlović, Test Lead at Levi9, the past 9 years have been filled with milestones, growth, and plenty of memorable moments.
It all started with a friend’s recommendation. At the time, his friend was working at Levi9’s Novi Sad office and mentioned something new was brewing in Belgrade — a brand-new Delivery Center.
“You should go for an interview,” he said. So, Toza did — and the rest, as they say, is history.
“There have been many memorable moments, but it all began with my very first technical interview – a scheduling mix-up had me running through busy Knez Mihailova street to make it on time. The effort paid off.
His first working day in the Belgrade office also happened to be his birthday.
“I still remember my birthday coinciding with the very first working day in the Belgrade office – the smell of cherry pie, a cozy atmosphere, and great people. Frequent trips to the Netherlands turned into lasting connections and friendships with clients. Not everything went smoothly, but we always came out stronger. We’ve celebrated every win, big and small, with cake, of course”, says Toza.
It's Never Been Boring
Toza joined Levi9 when the Belgrade office was just getting started — a small team of around 10 people in Vlajkovićeva Street. Today, it’s a modern tech hub in the K-District with over 150 employees.
From new projects and offices to the pandemic and now the AI era, this has been a journey of constant change. After 9 years with hardly a break between projects, it is true that it’s never been boring.
Just like Levi9, I’ve also grown — both professionally and personally. The journey from Junior to Test Lead and Department Manager wasn’t always easy, but each new experience and every project brought something valuable, whether on the technical side or in terms of working with people and sharpening my soft skills.
All of it has contributed to shaping the person Toza is today, someone who’s open to new opportunities and fully aware that there’s always more to learn. Growth is a continuous process, and that’s something he try to pass on to the people he work closely with.
A Culture That Was Built, Not Bought
The Levi9 culture that exists today didn’t appear overnight – it was shaped and refined over time.
“What’s considered ‘standard’ today wasn’t always a given, and that’s why I feel an even stronger sense of gratitude and appreciation for being part of a company like this — one that, with all its strengths and imperfections, has rightfully earned its place at the very top of the local IT market.”
And what matters the most is that across the entire company, there is a strong and consistent focus on continuous learning and development. This is shared drive to explore new technologies and master new skills. On a macro level, this mindset has a direct impact on everyone in the organization.
It’s not just colleagues, it’s levi niners
When asked what makes Levi9 a special place to work, compared to other companies in the IT industry in Serbia, Toza keep it short and simple:
“The people. The company culture. The relationships that have been built over the years within the organization. And above all, the fact that even after 9 years, I still feel that same positive vibe about working at Levi9.”
So what keeps someone motivated after nearly a decade on the job? For Toza, the answer is clear: “It is opportunity to continuously push myself beyond my comfort zone”. He’s especially excited about how roles, particularly in QA, are evolving. With artificial intelligence becoming a game-changer in the industry, the future promises even more dynamic shifts. It will be exciting to see how the Levi9 ecosystem will adapt to support “the coming wave”.
But what really keeps things moving, even when the pace gets intense? For Toza, it comes down to one of Levi9’s core beliefs – Teamwork makes the dream work.
“Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you hit a roadblock. Be open to receiving support from your teammates.”
