Accelerate Action: Embracing Diversity, Leadership, and Growth
In celebration of International Women’s Month, Chetna Shastry reflects on the significance of the month and what the theme "Accelerate Action" means to her.
"Allyship goes beyond advocating for equality - it means valuing diverse perspectives and making space for them."
Chetna Shastry (She/Her)
Head of Business Operations - Global Product
The theme for International Women’s Day this year is ‘Accelerate Action’, what does this mean to you?
To me, "Accelerate Action" resonates deeply with my own journey of continuous growth and impact. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on driving change, even when it meant stepping outside my comfort zone—not only for myself but also for the teams and organizations I’ve been a part of. Whether it’s been packing my bags and moving across continents multiple times to embrace new opportunities or building and enabling high-performing teams across companies, the theme serves as a reminder of how action drives progress.
In my current role at Wise, I’m committed to fostering an environment where individuals can do their best work, collaborate, and contribute to the broader mission of innovation and inclusivity. For me, "Accelerating Action" means embracing challenges head-on and taking concrete steps to create meaningful change—whether that's improving the systems we work, supporting one another in our growth, or challenging the status quo to ensure everyone has equal opportunities to succeed. It’s not just about imagining progress; it’s about actively driving it in every facet of our professional lives. My role at Wise is to lead Business Operations which lives the motto of “Accelerating Action”. The team is focussed on scaling the Wise product effectively through our operations and in to do this, we have had to build a team of courageous change agents who are not afraid to disrupt and revamp inefficient processes and surface opportunities for product investment that helps Wise scale more efficiently, making our product cheaper for our customers.
How do you typically celebrate International Women’s Day?
For me, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the importance of diversity and inclusion in every aspect of our lives—both personally and professionally. Having left my home country right after university, I have come to appreciate how diversity enriches our experiences, challenges our thinking, and drives innovation. At Wise, where our mission revolves around making international money transfers simple, fast, and affordable, embracing diversity is not just a value—it’s integral to how we operate. As we serve customers from all walks of life and across many countries, the diversity within our teams helps us better understand and meet the needs of people around the world.
I’m deeply aware that driving meaningful change requires a strong support system of leaders and mentors who inspire and enable others. On this day, I reflect on how I can be one of those leaders—someone who helps drive change by championing inclusivity and diversity in all that we do.
Beyond work, I listen to powerful female voices across music, politics, and tech. I'm inspired by women who challenge the norm, push boundaries, and pave the way for future generations, reminding me of the importance of representation and supporting women in all fields.
What’s been your proudest moment since joining Wise?
My proudest moment since joining Wise has been the opportunity to model and foster the belief that we can transform towards excellence. I’ve always believed that leadership is about inspiring others, not just by words but through actions that demonstrate what’s possible. By role modeling this mindset as a Lead at Wise, I’ve seen a new breed of leadership emerge within our teams—leaders who are empowered to take ownership, innovate, and drive change.
In my first few months at Wise, I worked closely with product and operational teams to understand how Wise cards are delivered to customers. By immersing myself in the product and customer experience, I was able to drive significant improvements alongside the team in a short time. This approach not only set a strong example but also helped attract talent to build a team capable of driving large-scale change, all while embedding ourselves deeply in the problem space and collaborating to create solutions with the teams behind Wise products.
What makes me happiest is seeing my organization thrive by pushing boundaries while being truth seeking and embodying our mission’s values. Watching their success and knowing I contributed to their growth is incredibly rewarding. I’ve also learned that leadership is about humility—recognizing when to step back, listen, and learn. True leadership isn’t just about personal achievements; it’s about elevating others and shaping excellence together.
How can Allies best support Women's empowerment?
Allyship goes beyond advocating for equality - it means valuing diverse perspectives and making space for them. I’ve been lucky to occasionally have role models who looked like me, even if they were in different parts of the organization. Their presence reassured me that it was possible to succeed in spaces where I didn’t always see people who looked like me. However, the most impactful support I’ve received has been from sponsors—those who believed in me even before I fully believed in myself. Their confidence in my abilities helped me navigate the moments of doubt and imposter syndrome.
Diversity can often be uncomfortable because it challenges the status quo and pushes us out of our comfort zones. But it’s precisely this discomfort that leads to better, more creative solutions. True allyship means embracing that discomfort, believing in the long-term value it brings, and investing in the positive outcomes that will surely follow. Allies are those who actively work through the discomfort, amplifying voices that might not otherwise be heard, and advocating for a more inclusive, diverse workplace. It’s through active allyship that we can unlock a more inclusive, dynamic, and high-performing environment for everyone.
I was incredibly fortunate to have a manager and later a mentor at my very first job, who made it a priority to ensure that, as an immigrant and the only female on the team, I felt heard and valued. He took the time to listen, guide, and provide constructive feedback, always reinforcing that my opinions mattered. This experience taught me the true power of being seen and heard, and the lasting impact it can have on someone's confidence and growth. The lessons I learned from him—about the importance of inclusion, active listening, and validating others' perspectives—have stayed with me and continue to shape the way I engage with and support those around me.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell myself to speak up sooner and have more conviction in my ideas, even if they’re unpopular. Early on, I hesitated to share my thoughts, spending too much time validating them instead of trusting my perspective.
Conviction doesn’t mean always being right—it’s about having the confidence to share your perspective. But it also means having the humility to listen and adapt when challenged. True growth comes from both speaking up and learning from others in the process.
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