Potting bugs like snooker balls with Dario, our international snooker referee / QA manager

Today we will put the spotlight on Dario, the QA manager at Q. He is one of our team leaders, responsible for leading a team of six testers! Living every day for his team, project, and our company, Dario is a great person, colleague, and employee and is a perfect reflection of who we are and who we strive to be at Q.

Dario and his team waiting for the all-staff meeting to begin

What drew you to QA? Have you always worked in QA roles?

Since I was a child, I have always been trying to break stuff into even smaller pieces, and then I had to assemble and check everything by myself to be sure that it works. I started my working career testing other people's code, and I loved it.

I was working as a tester, business analyst, and even a project manager. It gave me great insights and a thorough understanding of QA testing environments and software development life cycles.

I soon went back to my passion - to Quality Assurance. It was always my happy place—a place where my creative mindset, good communications skills, and a strong IT background were flourishing.

Soon I became a manager, and I got the team leader position, which I find to be the one where I can give my very best.

If you could pick one theme for Q to turn into a book about the company, what would it be?

Friendship. From day one, everybody was so friendly, and I felt like I knew every person forever—even with the management team! Also, everybody is always at your service for whatever you need, both professionally or privately.

What are 3 words to describe Q?

Move fast, be kind, and do more. Well, those are not actually 3 words, but our 3 key values. They represent what we are and who we want to be in the future. To think and act fast, never lose a good heart, think big and stay humble, and always do more than people expect.

Dario on his vacation at the Croatian seaside

What is on your wishlist for the next 5 years with Q?

To be where I am right now: working in Q on a major project, leading a group of wonderful young people, and transferring my knowledge and experience and Q values to them.

Do you have any hobbies, go-to weekend activities, or long-term passion projects you’re working on?

I had lots of hobbies and tried many different activities like football, tennis, chess, and cards, but for the last 4 years, I have been in love with snooker. So I spend most of my free time playing snooker and being a referee on Croatia's main snooker events.

How do you balance your career at Q and friends & family?

When you're working here in Q, it is easy. Q wants us all to have balanced work and life, and even working hours are flexible so we can tailor them to our needs. But what I cherish the most is my free weekends with my loving family.

Dario and his colleagues at a Q Christmas party, 2019

When are you the happiest?

It may sound like a cliche, but I'm happiest when everybody around me is happy. I enjoy the chain reaction when one person's happiness influences and boosts another person's mood. Isn't it cool? We should use our superpowers more often.

Are you an iPhone or android type of person?

iPhone, but not because of all the hype around it, but because I like things simple. I don't personalize my phone so much that I would need all Android’s functionalities. And also, I like Apple’s connectivity and simplicity in transferring data from one device to another.

If you were stuck on an island, what three things would you bring?

iPhone so that I could call for help, a solar charger so that I could use my iPhone for more than a day, and a knife to hunt for some food. I think this would help me if we assume that there is a signal on the island. :D

Any Qs?

Quality is everyone's responsibility, and we never have to stop getting better. Yes, the role of QA is changing, and you need to adapt, but QA will always be necessary for a better user experience. If you're wondering how to create usable and intuitive software or just want to get to know Dario or his team, contact us, and we will make sure to introduce you.