From Wisestart scholarship to Software Engineer: Eliise's Journey
We believe in building lasting relationships with talented students, supporting them from their academic years and helping them transition into meaningful careers. Our scholarship program isn’t a one-time transaction; it’s a long-term investment in people. We stay connected with our scholars, offering mentorship, guidance, and a clear path to potential roles within Wise.
Eliise shares her unique journey into Wise, and how she is making the most of it since she joined - from the projects she is working on, to the connections she is making.
“My favourite moment as an Intern was definitely seeing my project go live - knowing that something I built is out there, being used, and actually helping people.”
Eliise Karafin (She/Her)
Graduate Engineer
How did each stage of your journey at Wise build your confidence?
My journey with Wise began as a ‘WiseStart: Women in Tech’ scholarship holder, which led me to participate in the WiseWomenCode program, apply for a position as an intern, and eventually to my current role as a Graduate Engineer.
When I first applied for the scholarship, I had no prior experience in IT and was only in my first year at university. Without the support and encouragement from the program, I’m not sure I would have believed in myself enough to apply for an internship in engineering the following year. The program opened my eyes to what was possible and showed me that Wise is where I truly want to be.
What was the transition like from being a student to an intern at Wise?
The mentorship, office visits, and shadowing opportunities gave me a real insight into Wise's culture and work environment. Seeing how supportive, collaborative, and inspiring the teams were, definitely made a lasting impression. After that, I knew my goal was to be a part of this.
Joining the team as an intern was better than I imagined. The transition from student to intern was easier than I thought because of the guidance I received from my team. They made me feel like I really belong here.
Can you give an example of a project where you felt your contributions truly made a difference?
During my internship, I had the chance to work on two projects. For my first project, I implemented automatic contact creation between a business admin’s personal and business profiles. It was a highly requested feature, so it felt really exciting to work on something impactful, solving a real problem. Seeing it released and actually working felt very rewarding.
My second project was quite different - I built a completely new feature. Users can now share their Wise contacts with others! I still remember the excitement of updating the app and seeing a button I had built appear in the real product.
It was a great challenge to plan and scope it out, and to think about how it fit into the product and the needs of our customers. There was a lot of uncertainty around what specifically needed to be implemented but, because of this, there was also more room for creativity, which I really enjoyed.
Both projects pushed me out of my comfort zone - it was a huge jump from being involved in small university projects to contributing to real, customer-facing products. It was exciting to be a part of something so complex, and know that as an intern, I was not just observing but actually making a real impact.
How have the connections and environment at Wise contributed to your personal and professional development?
At Wise, I've learned far beyond the classroom through diverse opportunities—from day-to-day project work to group onboarding and weekly 'Intern Insights' sessions. These experiences help me understand the bigger picture and develop the product mindset needed here.
The strong support system has been transformative. My mentor, buddy, lead, and team have challenged me and made me learn things I wouldn't have on my own.
Meeting fellow interns from diverse backgrounds has also been invaluable. Sharing this journey with others who were learning and growing alongside me made the experience even more meaningful. It gave me a sense of community - people I could turn to to share both struggles and wins, and to figure things out together. Wise did a great job of bringing us together and creating a supportive network. In my current role, those connections have given me a wider perspective and better understanding of different teams and domains across the company.
What’s been your favourite part of your time at Wise so far and why?
My favourite moment as an Intern was definitely seeing my project go live - knowing that something I built is out there, being used, and actually helping people. It’s such a rewarding feeling and really makes all the effort worth it.
Another thing I’ve really loved about Wise so far is how bold and innovative we are as a company, and how we’re genuinely working to change the way people move money around the world. It’s a mission I really resonate with, and being part of that bigger purpose is really important to me.
What has the transition been like going from an Intern to a Graduate at Wise?
After completing my two-month internship, I was fortunate to join the company as a full-time engineer - an opportunity I'm incredibly grateful for.
Because I moved into the same team I interned with, the people, product, and domain were already familiar, which made the step up feel smooth. At the same time, becoming a graduate has brought a new level of responsibility. I'm now expected to take more initiative, contribute to team discussions and projects and own pieces of work with independence.
Another big shift has been becoming fully integrated into the team. During my internship I mostly focused on individual projects, but now I’m involved in the team's day-to-day work and collaborative projects which is definitely a new learning opportunity.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career at Wise?
Don't be afraid to apply, even if you don't tick every box.
Embrace new challenges and technologies—it's okay not to know everything. Most importantly: ask questions, reach out, and take every opportunity to connect with others. Wise is full of supportive, talented people who offer invaluable perspectives.
Roles you might be interested in
Salary
18200 - 26600 BRL Monthly
Location
São Paulo
Job Family Group
Recruitment
Locations
São Paulo
Description
Join our dynamic and expanding team in São Paulo and play a crucial role in shaping the future of Wise in the Americas. As a Senior Technical Recruiter, you'll have the opportunity to foster a strong
Reference
19bb4f19-e699-4f2f-9eb7-3cab8e011492
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
75000 - 115000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Analytics - General
Locations
London
Description
We are seeking an experienced data analyst to join our CRM Analytics team, supporting both Personal and Business customer segments. As a key member of the Marketing Analytics organisation, you will re
Reference
60405f19-db60-466b-9322-91997d650b3b
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
75000 - 115000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Analytics - General
Locations
London
Description
We are seeking a Marketing Analytics Manager to define and execute the analytical strategy for our global CRM program, supporting both Personal and Business customer segments. As a key member of the M
Reference
a4f59f50-9e9c-4341-9496-5f51018d5a82
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
75000 - 115000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Analytics - General
Locations
London
Description
We are seeking an experienced marketing Senior Analytics Manager to lead our CRM analytics' at Wise, supporting both Personal and Business customer segments. As a senior member of the Marketing Analyt
Reference
07ca3371-4a54-4563-a298-a18b7f72e0b3
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
1180000 - 1540000 HUF Monthly
Location
Budapest
Job Family Group
Service Delivery
Locations
Budapest
Description
Ready to change the game for millions of customers worldwide? At Wise, we’re on a mission to create a world where money moves effortlessly, without borders—and our customers deserve support that mo
Reference
cf8fb39d-ff90-4040-8476-b2b6ded31918
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
79,000 - 101,000 Euros Annually
Location
Milan
Job Family Group
Banking - General
Locations
Milan
Description
Our ability to offer hyper-localised products and services determine the quality of our service to our Italian customers. And our relationships with regulators, governments, and payment systems are cr
Reference
5faed881-5284-4521-944f-15fffdbadcf8
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
87500 - 110000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Engineering
Locations
London
Description
About the roleWe're looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to build and scale Wise's price comparison platform.Comparison is about transparency—helping customers understand the real cost of sending mon
Reference
f62a72bd-739f-416d-a727-52ab377c3065
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
59000 - 72000 USD Annual
Location
Austin
Job Family Group
Customer Success
Locations
Austin
Description
We’re looking for a Junior Customer Success Manager to join our fast-growing Wise Platform squad in Austin. Your job will be to manage a portfolio of partners and provide them with best-in-class suppo
Reference
4bd649a8-c8a8-44fc-9c5b-218f789a776c
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
3500000 - 4900000 INR Annual
Location
Hyderabad
Job Family Group
Engineering
Locations
Hyderabad
Description
Wise is one the fastest growing companies in Europe and we’re on a mission: to make money without borders the new normal. We’ve got 10 million customers across the globe and we’re growing. Fast.Curren
Reference
9d696ec0-b6ef-432b-b387-67540c432d2b
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
282,000 - 358,000 PLN Annually
Location
Warsaw
Job Family Group
Banking - General
Locations
Warsaw
Description
Our ability to offer hyper-localised products and services determine the quality of our service to our Polish customers. And our relationships with regulators, governments, and payment systems are cru
Reference
9dd57dcf-5845-4ddc-a9ce-4f09e3348f84
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Articles you might like
Teaser
Our workContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/01/2026
Summary
Every four years, football gets millions of people moving across borders, navigating new cities, and dealing with unfamiliar currencies. Thanks to Visa, we’ve launched the Limited Edition Wise
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
06/23/2026
Summary
“The best quality check is the one that never has to happen because we've already designed the problem out of existence.”Sreevishnu Sachidananda (He/Him) Head of Quality CS & Payment Op
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
05/13/2026
Summary
“For me, the hallmark of a great Implementation Manager is empowering partners by translating complex technical capabilities into experiences that feel effortless.” Cindy Momodu (She/Her)
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
05/07/2026
Summary
"What keeps me here is the sense of ownership and responsibility. Teams are empowered and truly accountable for their domains” Marta Lima (She/Her) Engineering lead
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
Diversity Equity & InclusionContent Type
BlogPublish date
05/01/2026
Summary
Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month at WiseWe sat down with two leaders at Wise to understand how they navigate the pressures of leadership and what advice they have for managing mental
by
Sapphire Birmingham
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
04/15/2026
Summary
"Wise truly sees potential in people; they don’t just look at your current role, they look at what you’re capable of becoming." Islam Muhammad (He/Him) Interim FinCrime Operations Seni
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
03/20/2026
Summary
Our team, including Suman Anand, Taneia Bhardwaj, Aditi Jalan, and Kanaka Raju Gullapudi is bridging the gap between time zones to build products that impact 16 million+ customers globally 🌎
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
03/02/2026
Summary
"When you join, you’ll see your own growth mirrored by the growth of the company. You won't just be watching change happen; you’ll be a direct part of it." Ataro Shoji (He/Him) Payment
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
Diversity Equity & InclusionContent Type
BlogPublish date
02/25/2026
Summary
“With a global team of over 8,000 people representing 125 nationalities, crafting spaces that genuinely work for everyone isn't a 'nice-to-have' – it's fundamental to our success.” Li
by
Sapphire Birmingham
Teaser
Diversity Equity & InclusionContent Type
BlogPublish date
02/23/2026
Summary
"Don't feel pressured to adopt a persona you think a leader 'should' have. Your unique perspective, background, and strengths are what will allow you to innovate and lead diverse teams effec
by
Sapphire Birmingham