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.
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