At Wise, we're committed to fostering innovation and growth, not just in our products but in our people. This year, we launched a new program called Product Academy, a comprehensive development program designed to help people transition to Product Management from different fields.

The Product Academy is a 10-week program tailored for those eager to dive deep into the world of product management. Participants engaged in a mix of hands-on projects, expert-led sessions, and peer collaborations. The curriculum covered different topics from planning and product strategy to agile methodologies and user experience design.

The Academy offers a unique opportunity to dive into product management within a supportive and collaborative environment. 

Why were you interested in joining the program?

“I’m passionate about understanding the “Why” behind customer problems and found the Product Academy's hands-on, structured approach to product management to be exactly what I was looking for.”

What was your highlight of the academy?

“I found the Agile development week the most engaging. Particularly the exercise of refining a project that I found was like "trimming a bonsai-tree"—focusing on making iterative improvements without compromising quality. 

Another learning I’ll definitely take with me is that the most important foundation of high-performing teams is the psychological safety of the team, so that we have to create an environment where everyone feels valued and can express their ideas and opinions freely within the team”

Would you recommend the Academy to others?

“It was a really intensive program, but I am super grateful for it. I got the chance to learn from and meet super smart people, and make great bonds and friendships throughout the academy - and after as well. It was a supportive and nurturing environment, where we could learn, fail and grow together. We not only learned about product management, but each other's domains as well - and got an intensive, but fulfilling 10 weeks. Don’t miss out on it, be sure to enroll for the next one!”

Why were you interested in joining the program?

“I transitioned from engineering to product management, and was driven by a desire to influence the “what” and “why” of product development. I saw the Academy as a rare, structured path to gain the core skills needed for this shift.”

What sort of things did you do during the program?

 "Mondays were dedicated to lectures, where we explored topics like OKRs, KPIs, and how these concepts apply at Wise. We spent the week working on tasks like building KPI trees, fully integrating with our teams through ceremonies like stand-ups. Fridays were the highlight—presenting our work, receiving feedback, and learning from both lecturers and peers. That's when the magic happened."

What was your highlight of the Academy?

“I was drawn to the Product Compliance elements of the program. Wise is operating in a highly regulated environment—we are dealing with people's hard-earned money, after all—so it’s crucial to ensure what we build is safe for our customers and compliant with the various regulatory requirements. Building a compliant product ultimately means building a safe product.”

Would you recommend the Academy to others?

“I'd definitely recommend the Product Academy to anyone interested in becoming a PM, no matter your previous experience or background. If you have the curiosity and determination to learn, that's all it takes. It's what the academy is all about - building a strong product foundation through actually doing the work in a safe environment. You'll be supported by other academists and lecturers throughout the process and foster strong connections which you can rely on in the future.”