What originally drew you to Wise and tell us about your journey so far

Before joining Wise, I spent nearly a decade in Sydney working with brands like Amex and Expedia. I returned to Japan in 2013 as an early employee at Square (now Block) to launch their local business. Over six years, I led Risk and Compliance Operations before transitioning to Industry Relations, driving key milestones like the JCB integration and the government’s Japan Cashless Promotion.

I was just about to take a well-deserved sabbatical...until I saw a role at Wise that I couldn't pass up. Positions for a Banking & Expansion Lead in Japan rarely come up, and Wise’s mission to solve real customer problems instantly appealed to me. The culture aligned naturally with my values, and while I didn’t come from a banking background, I knew my operational leadership would fit.

So, 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.

Can you share a milestone or a specific project you’ve led here that you are most proud of?

It’s definitely a double milestone: obtaining our Type 1 Funds Transfer Service license (March 2024) and launching Direct Access to the Zengin system with a Bank of Japan settlement account (November 2025).

Here is why both were crucial: 

Breaking the 1 Million JPY Cap: Previously, like almost all fintech money transmitters in Japan, Wise operated under a Type 2 license—capping transfers at 1M JPY (~$6,500–$7,000 USD). A Type 1 license removes that ceiling, enabling transfers up to 150 million JPY (~$1M USD). It requires bank-grade vetting from the Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) around security, liquidity management, and compliance. Wise was one of the first international fintechs to clear this bar.

Scale: While some local players hold Type 1 licenses, Wise is the only provider offering high-value transfers across 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate.

A historic first with Zengin & Bank of Japan: Wise became the first non-bank to directly connect to Japan’s domestic payment clearing network (Zengin) via API. By eliminating intermediary banks and settling directly with the Bank of Japan—the first time the central bank opened an account to a non-bank—we can now settle JPY payments almost instantly.

Hitting these milestones meant a lot to me because everything I did in my career prior to Wise directly contributed to these achievements. It proved that no experience was wasted. It almost feels like I was building up every past lesson—from the most exciting projects to the most monotonous daily tasks—specifically to achieve what we accomplished here. Of course, none of this was a solo effort; these milestones were made possible alongside an incredible team.

How would you describe your leadership style, and how do you ensure your team feels empowered to do their best work?

Market expansion requires navigating complex regulations and cross-functional teams, so ownership is everything. My focus is on mentorship and creating real room for growth. For example, one of my team members transitioned from Payment Operations three years ago to learn the banking side of the business, who has stepped up enough to lead complex banking related projects well internally and externally.

I believe in leading by example, context-sharing, and building confidence so people can operate independently. That ownership relies heavily on Wise’s feedback culture—giving and receiving feedback openly helps everyone grow. 

What specific traits, mindsets, or skills do you look for when growing your teams?

When hiring for Banking and Expansion, I look for a few key mindsets:

• Scenario planning: The ability to think through multiple outcomes ("If X happens, we do A; if Y happens, we do B") is critical in the regulatory and expansion space.

• Receptivity to feedback: We operate with transparency, and there is so much we still don’t know after many years experience and we are pioneering in this market, so being open to feedback is essential.

• Adaptability and quick yet thorough thinking: This isn't about giving an instant answer; it's about pivoting smoothly when circumstances change and navigating complex internal and external stakeholders.

• A tenacious problem-solver: We handle complex regulatory and commercial projects which requires a strong sense of ownership and follow-through. 

When asked about working at Wise, what's the first thing you tell your friends?

The scale of impact. The Banking and Expansion team builds the underlying legal and regulatory rails that power our global products. Knowing that our groundwork directly enables faster, cheaper, and more transparent money transfers for millions of people around the world is incredibly rewarding.