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
90500 - 127000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Data Science
Locations
London
Description
We’re looking for a technical Lead Data Scientist (IC3) to join our growing KYC (Know Your Customer) and Onboarding Team in London. This role is a unique opportunity to understand the customer onboard
Reference
3b656654-e8b6-460c-9d8c-43adf67676ea
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
105000 - 135000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Engineering
Locations
London
Description
We’re looking for an Engineering Lead to join the embedded finance team. Our mission is to build the world's best embedded finance platform for our partners. You’ll be working closely with multiple fu
Reference
ea80ec81-db36-4746-a4a2-c739767dc5ad
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
75,000 - 115,000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Analytics - General
Locations
London
Description
We are looking for a strategically-minded Lead Analyst to join our Marketing Analytics team. This role is centered on owning reporting and deepening our understanding of what actually drives marketing
Reference
7250e65d-a781-4b5e-bc7a-5480acf2ae14
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
90500 - 127000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Data Science
Locations
London
Description
We are seeking a quantitative researcher or quantitative developer to join our Treasury FX Data Science team. You will help build and operate the models and production systems behind FX pricing, risk
Reference
829707b1-fa6d-4576-8103-5c1d7890f95f
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
111000 - 145000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Engineering
Locations
London
Description
We are expanding our Latam & Mea Payments Team and are looking for ambitious and highly skilled Senior Software Engineers to join the engineering team.You will lead the development of the critical int
Reference
2cfeb249-1c4a-42a8-9bfa-5fce421bff12
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
93000 - 120000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Product Management
Locations
London
Description
Product Operations is a small team of specialists at Wise. Our focus is the machine - the people, processes and practices - that builds our product. We work with autonomous product teams to help them
Reference
e3f53ed6-fe14-4021-a8a2-ee45ce92ebcd
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
105000 - 150000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Job Family Group
Analytics - General
Locations
London
Description
We are looking for a Senior Analytics Manager to join the Pricing Analytics team at Wise.This role offers an opportunity to have a direct and measurable impact on Wise’s mission — money without borde
Reference
72968d0c-eb00-4c1b-8fec-b87027585b93
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
MYR 10,600 Monthly + RSUs
Location
Kuala Lumpur
Job Family Group
Customer Compliance
Locations
Kuala Lumpur
Description
We’re looking for an AML Investigations Team Lead to join our team in KL. This role is a unique opportunity to have an impact on Wise’s mission by helping identify suspicious activity and through that
Reference
f3e0ab01-d240-4d4a-b7c6-21c1096a36bb
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
8,250 - 10,250 SGD Monthly
Location
Singapore
Job Family Group
Finance Specialists
Locations
Singapore
Description
About the RoleWe’re looking for a Finance Manager, (Associate Controller, APAC 12-month FTC) to join our Regional Finance team in Singapore.You’ll play a key role in strengthening our Regional finance
Reference
00005b6d-b327-4e00-9fb9-d40efcaac399
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Base + RSU
Location
Singapore
Job Family Group
Verification
Locations
Singapore
Description
Role & Job purposeAs a Partner Risk Assessment Specialist, you will play a critical role in ensuring that Wise adheres to regulatory and compliance requirements. You will be responsible for onboarding
Reference
492e1b94-8a5d-49d1-9372-5f8308284a5f
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Articles you might like
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
09/10/2026
Summary
Breaking into Product Management (PM) can feel like mission impossible: you need PM experience to get the role, but you need the role to get experience. We built Product Academy to bridge this
by
Sapphire Birmingham
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/28/2026
Summary
"I traded my sabbatical for an application, changed my plans, and joined Wise in June 2020. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made." Mika Sei (She/Her) Japan C
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/18/2026
Summary
“Don’t limit yourself to what’s written in your job description—be naturally curious, ask questions, and constantly look for ways to make things better.” Charlene Su (She/Her) Head o
by
Sapphire Birmingham
Teaser
Our workContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/18/2026
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
08/13/2026
Summary
“For us, ESG isn’t a separate project, it’s a part of how we build a global product.” Caroline Corbett-Thompson (She/Her) Global Environmental, Social Impact and Governance Lead
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/28/2026
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
07/22/2026
Summary
"At Wise, we expect our analysts to have just as much voice and ownership over what we build—and in what order—as the Product Managers. It is a true, cross-functional partnership."Hazal Mu
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
06/10/2026
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
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