Life in the heart of Austin
My name is Cynthia. I'm a fraud agent at Wise, based in the Austin office. We strive to prevent fraudulent activity on the Wise platform. It can be tricky, as Wise supports many different countries, each with its specific banking systems. You have to discern what is fraudulent and what isn't. Various countries have different regulations, so you need to learn them all to effectively prevent fraud.
Can you tell us about your journey at Wise? Why did you decide to join?
I was born in the US in New York but grew up in Amsterdam. When I was 23, I decided to move to Barcelona and lived there for 5 years. During that time, I decided to open my Wise account and I started using it throughout my travels. Afterward, I moved to the Dominican Republic for 1 year and took a year off.
Since I’m American, I decided to look for jobs in the US and came across Wise. I applied for the role as I resonated with the mission and goals, as I love to travel and the mission is to make international transactions free. I was already familiar with the product and liked that I could transfer money in different currencies, so I applied!
I connected with the person who interviewed me; he explained the goals and the type of person they were looking for, which got me excited. They extended me the offer, and I thought I’d take a leap of faith and move to Austin, and it worked out for me!
How have you found it so far?
Fast forward a year and a half. I started as a fraud agent, and I love my job, especially investigating. It’s never boring as it changes every single time, keeping you on your toes. I began in a small but very supportive team. To this day, everyone remembers the onboarding process. It was so unique and insightful! We got to know the product, and then back in our regular office, we started training specific to our roles and the necessary information.
How have you found relocating to Austin?
Relocating to Austin was a little nerve-racking, since I didn't really have anything planned. I had never visited Austin before, and I had never lived in the US during my adulthood.
When I arrived without any plans, a fellow Wiser was incredibly helpful and provided me with the information I needed to get settled. My team lead in Austin was also very supportive, always checking in to see if I needed assistance. If he wasn't able to help, we would collaborate to find a solution. The people I was surrounded by were extremely supportive. With great coworkers and a supportive team lead, Austin already felt like a good place to be, and everyone was very friendly. Everything ended up going smoothly, and I have been able to adjust to life in the US.
Austin is pretty amazing - there are lots of outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking on the river, perfect for swimming during the summer. There are also plenty of cool things to do, with numerous bars and restaurants. You'll never get bored here, and there are loads of towns and cities to visit nearby. Austin has a lot to offer, and the people have been super friendly.
How would you describe the office?
In the heart of the Domain, it's a lively area with plenty of stores and bars. It's a breeze for Wisers to gather, grab a drink, and unwind after work.
When we first arrived here, it gave off a hotel vibe with its pleasant aroma and super fancy interior! The office boasts the best view of Austin; you can see downtown from here. It's refreshing to take a break and admire the cityscape. The abundance of lush, green plants creates a jungle-like atmosphere, coupled with ample open space.
In the break room, we're spoiled for choice with snacks and beverages, including coffee machines and flavored water taps. And we're always adding more cool stuff to it! The office building even houses a gym with showers and supplies, and we have a roof terrace where we can unwind.
We also have a game room, which is a blast. Different teams organize events in the office, and it doesn't matter which team you're on; everyone comes together to enjoy activities like karaoke, playing pool, and simply having a good time!
My personal favorite activity at the office is playing pool from time to time. I may not be the best at it, but having the pool table allows me to practise and spend quality time with some fantastic coworkers.
Do you collaborate with Wisers globally?
Last year, I had the opportunity to visit Tallinn in Estonia, which was pretty cool. The main purpose of the visit was to work side by side with more tenured agents or those with expertise in specific areas. I learned a lot from them and gained new perspectives on how I typically approached my work. This cultural exchange, whether visiting a different office or hosting colleagues from other locations, is really valuable. It gives us the chance to finally meet the people we communicate with over Slack and Zoom, strengthening those connections in person.
Soon I'll be traveling to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to assist with training and share the knowledge I've acquired during my time at Wise. It's part of our supportive culture to visit different offices and exchange knowledge with fellow Wisers. Learning and sharing information is a key aspect of our collaboration.
Recently, I've begun collaborating with a sub-team based in Tallinn. This allows me to work closely with other teams, such as Fraud and Anti Money Laundering (AML), to address any gaps. Additionally, we have a point of contact (POC) in each team for exchanging information and addressing questions. If I have a question in the office, I can simply walk up to someone's desk and ask, fostering a culture of open communication and collaboration.
What is your favorite thing about working for Wise?
The role itself is incredibly fulfilling. I enjoy my job because it's not only interesting but also keeps me on my toes. I truly love my team; it's wonderfully diverse, with people from various walks of life who are not only fun but also genuinely nice. I find it enriching to learn new things about different cultures and about each other.
Mission days were particularly memorable. Held in a typical Austin location with food trucks, followed by an after-party featuring various DJs, it provided a fantastic opportunity to come together with colleagues from other offices and meet new faces.
We've experienced significant growth as a team. When I first joined, the Fraud team consisted of just 8 people, and we were based in the old office. Now, in our brand new office, we've expanded tremendously. We've more than quadrupled in size, and we're still hiring (check out our open roles!). This growth has not only made us a more connected team but also highlights the dynamic evolution of Austin itself.
What do you do for fun in the Austin office?
The people from the Fraud team are actually quite fun, despite the serious nature of our work! While we do handle serious matters, we also know how to have a good time. If you were to join us, you'd see that we strike a great balance between hard work and enjoying ourselves. We work diligently in our serious roles but also laugh and joke a lot, creating a fun atmosphere.
The Austin office is particularly beloved among Wisers for its vibrant atmosphere. We make the most of our team events with the budget we have, often hosting visitors for the Fraud team. We organize plenty of team dinners, drinks, and activities. For instance, we recently tried axe throwing, which was a blast! And if there's no official event planned, we take the initiative to get together outside of work. Last time, we gathered at a coworker's place for a BBQ and some quality hangout time.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of applying to Wise?
I would highly encourage you to give it a try. At Wise, we value feedback greatly, and you'll have ample opportunity to incorporate it into your work. One unique aspect of Wise is the potential for growth and the ability to transition between different teams. I've witnessed many people start in one team and then move into others, which adds a unique dimension to our company culture.
You won't regret joining us. Wise offers a fantastic atmosphere and is a great company overall. The benefits are excellent, including great working hours—no more than 40 hours, which differs significantly from many other US companies. We also enjoy generous vacation and paid time off (PTO) allowances compared to other companies.
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