Leading Engineering with purpose: Meet Smrithi Ravi

Tell us a bit about your background and how you got into Engineering

My interest in Computer Science and Engineering began in my early teens, when I first started writing code as a hobby. My curiosity in coding led me to pursue a Bachelor’s in Computer Science Engineering, followed by a Master’s at Columbia University. After graduating, I began a career at Bloomberg, and later moved to Silicon Valley to work at Groupon.

Eventually, I relocated to Singapore and became a customer of Wise. As a new mum, I resonated deeply with the company's mission, so when the opportunity to join Wise as an engineer arose, it felt like the perfect next step both personally and professionally.

What makes your Engineering team unique compared to other teams at the company?

I lead the Asia Pacific Engineering Squad within Wise's Regional Expansion Tribe, driving the expansion of Wise's products across the APAC region. Our team manages a range of licenses, including Send Money, e-wallet, and Asset licenses, while developing partner connectivity and direct links to payment schemes.

With APAC having the most currencies, licenses, and partners at Wise, our team plays a pivotal role in localizing products for diverse markets—from mature ones such as Australia and Singapore to emerging ones such as India and the Philippines. We've driven key innovations, such as launching video KYC (know your customer) the process used to verify customer identities and developing the first fully cloud-based direct integration with a payment scheme in the Philippines.

Our team of 30+ full-stack product engineers builds, tests, and ships code with a clear focus on customer impact. We follow the principle of "Customer > Team > Ego," ensuring that everything we do is centered around solving customer needs. We localize our products so that cross-border payments feel just as fast and seamless as domestic ones. This is only possible because we have a deep understanding of the regional payment ecosystem and work closely with local partners to make it happen.

What do you find most rewarding about your role as an Engineering lead?

Seeing how closely our Engineering work aligns with the company’s mission. We’re building a product that directly impacts how people manage and move their money— minimum fees and maximum ease, at full speed. It’s fulfilling to lead a team of engineers who understand the significance of every line of code they write and the real-world impact it has on our customers.

I also find it incredibly rewarding to be part of a culture where we work closely with other teams—such as customer support—to quickly address issues that impact our customers' experience. As seen in our Customer Challenge, the constant feedback loop ensures we’re always improving.

This level of mission-driven development is rare in the industry, and as an Engineering Lead, it's inspiring to build and nurture teams that share this focus.

How do you support and mentor your team members in their professional growth?

I’ve learned that productivity isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach—what works for one person might not work for another. Some team members thrive in a hybrid work setup, while others are most productive when they’re in the office five days a week. In some roles, in-person interaction is crucial not just for the team’s success, but also for individual growth. This is why we believe in tailoring development plans to each person’s needs.

We aim to keep our Engineering teams small to ensure that each individual gets the attention they deserve. As Engineering Leads, we wear two hats—both as technical leads and people leads. This allows us to create personalised growth plans, provide mentorship, and help each engineer unlock their potential. By focusing on individual growth, we can enhance productivity and ensure each person’s career trajectory aligns with their unique strengths. At Wise, we have standardised levels and expectations for Engineering that guides an engineer through all areas of growth and not just on skills and expertise alone. 

The other aspect is having a technical vision for the teams. This gives engineers direction and also potential to pick up highly impactful technical projects to drive the KPIs for the vision. 

What advice would you give to other employees considering joining Wise?

If you’re considering joining Wise—do it! We’re looking for engineers who are passionate about building products that have a real impact on customers, who are interested in financial tech, and who are self-starters—those who don’t just point out problems but jump in to solve them.

One standout feature of Wise is our commitment to transparency—whether it’s roles, expectations, or even salaries. This openness gives you a clear understanding of your potential impact and your place within the wider organisation.

We also place a strong emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. Whether you're into hiking, LLMs (large language models), Women in Tech (join Wise Women Engineering), or you're a parent like me, you'll find a community at Wise that supports and encourages you.