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
105000 - 130000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Team
Technology
Locations
London
Description
Job DescriptionAbout the roleWe at Wise Platform (aka Wise for Enterprise) aim to be the infrastructure that powers the world’s money by connecting banks, financial institutions, and enterprises to ou
Reference
81bb48d8-2640-480c-83d8-ba3790776f72
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
85000 - 105000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Team
Technology
Locations
London
Description
About the role The Business Account Experience squad is on a mission to simplify financial management for Wise’s business customers. We build the technology & integrations that allow our B2B customers
Reference
be72cfea-a61c-4525-884f-dd8261f04fa1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
1650000 - 2250000 INR Annual
Location
Hyderabad
Team
Customer Support
Locations
Hyderabad
Description
We’re looking for a Workforce Management Senior Specialist to join our team in the Hyderabad office!As a member of the WFM team you will be vital in ensuring agents are scheduled to be working at the
Reference
e845acf4-4aa9-4824-8718-886a937afd8d
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
3400 EUR Monthly
Location
Tallinn
Team
Operations
Locations
Tallinn
Description
We’re looking for a Reconciliation Strategy and Automation Lead to join our Payment Operations Reconciliation team in our Tallinn office. This role is a unique opportunity to have an impact on Wise’s
Reference
7a3c3364-5443-447f-b46a-7d8f326c41d4
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
85000 - 105000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Team
Technology
Locations
London
Description
At Wise, we're not just developing a product; we're redefining the financial landscape. As a Senior Platform Engineer, you will be at the heart of this transformation, entrusted with complex, critical
Reference
59e57f73-ab4f-4584-a98b-81aac5d88cff
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
115000 - 150000 AUD Annual
Location
Sydney
Team
Finance
Locations
Sydney
Description
We’re looking for a Finance Manager, Pacific to join our finance team in Sydney, Australia! If you’ve got Finance experience in Statutory Reporting (GAAP), Management Reporting (IFRS/US GAAP), Financi
Reference
bc664ab2-f3e2-418d-a998-5fdeeed38198
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
26800 - 35200 BRL Monthly
Location
São Paulo
Team
Operations
Locations
São Paulo
Description
Are you ready to shape the future of payments in Latin America and beyond?We’re seeking a strategic and experienced Head of Regional Payment Operations to lead our teams across Latin American corridor
Reference
3215c399-88f2-41a9-943c-b567836b5ce4
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
83000 - 118000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Team
Customer Support
Locations
London
Description
We’re looking for a Senior Procurement Lead to join our Third Party Management and Procurement Team in London. This role will focus on leading the Outsourcing category comprising major servicing subca
Reference
a2deb5e2-70b2-4b0e-b578-a9f8bd3ed538
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
2800 - 3800 EUR Monthly
Location
Tallinn
Team
Risk and Compliance
Locations
Tallinn
Description
We’re looking for a Senior Specialist who will focus on delivering our Financial Crime compliance monitoring and testing (CMT) plans for our Europe license. You will work with colleagues from a wide v
Reference
7ee582ab-dc94-49fe-849f-149ec6614115
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
70000 - 90000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Team
Finance
Locations
London
Description
We are looking for an Internal Audit Manager for the Safeguarding / Operations risk portfolio to join our fast growing IA team. Your main task will be to coordinate and execute the internal audits at
Reference
ea98f6f6-08cf-4da4-8fc1-6d93a8afc94f
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Articles you might like
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/13/2025
Summary
Yann De Rudder, Group Product Compliance Lead in our Brussels office shares his insights in working in Product Compliance at Wise. "In Product Compliance, you’re not just interpreti
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
Our workContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/12/2025
Summary
Go behind the scenes with Jessica Rivera, our Talent Development Senior Specialist in Austin, as she shares how we set every new Wiser up for success from their very first day 🚀 "Our
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/12/2025
Summary
Andrea Macchiavello, Legal Counsel in our Austin office, is challenging the stereotype. She shares her journey from tech sales to being part of a scaling legal department, and how soft skills, t
by
Amani Albertsen
Teaser
Early careersContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/09/2025
Summary
In a recent article, Peter Yeomans, Lead for Early Careers in Design at Wise, shares his insights on how to thrive as a designer in the age of AI. He explains that we are heavily invested in o
by
Holly Sellers
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/03/2025
Summary
Gabriela Rubino, People Operations Specialist based in São Paulo shares her move from Customer Support to People Operations 🚀 “Seven and a half years later, I’m still here and I th
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/28/2025
Summary
Kostas Stamatoukos, Senior Director of Engineering for Wise Platform in Singapore, shares the key qualities that define effective engineering leadership 🚀 “The best engineers stay
by
Verona Hasani
Teaser
Early careersContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/08/2025
Summary
Discover how our Apprenticeship Program is shaping the next generation of talent in Brazil. Hear from Marcela Paulino Leal, a People Apprentice, about her journey and growth, and gain
by
Holly Sellers
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/02/2025
Summary
Yara Burvin, Analytics Engineer in London, shares how she built a game-changing data hub that transformed FinCrime operations at Wise. Read more below 🚀 "At Wise, I have the trust fr
by
Amani Albertsen
Teaser
Early careersContent Type
BlogPublish date
09/25/2025
Summary
Apurv, an Analytics lead in Singapore, shares why he thinks hiring early career talent is essential to his team’s growth and success. "Be prepared to guide them as they move from wor
by
Holly Sellers
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
09/24/2025
Summary
"What excites me most is the incredible opportunity to build something from the ground up. Leading and building a team from scratch is something very few people get to experience in their care
by
Verona Hasani