I joined Wise truly excited by the company’s mission and global reach, but my experience was far from the inclusive, innovative environment that’s marketed externally. In reality, I found the culture to be performative at best—particularly when it came to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Despite public claims of valuing difference and belonging, leadership often felt disconnected from the lived experiences of employees from underrepresented backgrounds. There was little accountability, poor communication, and a reluctance to innovate. Too often, decisions were driven by internal politics, optics and chaos rather than strategy, expertise, or values alignment.
Feedback was inconsistent—or entirely absent—and expectations often remained vague until a problem was identified. The pace was intense, but not in a productive or inspiring way; it felt more like burnout disguised as hustle. When concerns were raised, responses tended to be dismissive or surface-level, with little to no genuine acknowledgment of the actual employee experience.
During my time at Wise, I noticed a significant amount of turnover. The attrition is high, and there’s little accountability for improving the employee experience across the lifecycle. The interview process is wildly inconsistent—some candidates go through two rounds, others eight. Onboarding is arguably the strongest part of the experience, but the culture quickly reveals itself. If you’re a seasoned professional or an innovator who challenges existing processes to make things better, you may be labeled as “difficult” rather than supported.
Wise often favors individuals who go with the flow, adapt to a collegiate, casual camaraderie, and don’t challenge the status quo. If you’re quiet, agreeable, and avoid questioning how things operate, you’ll likely blend in. But if you bring deep subject matter expertise, a critical lens, or a push for accountability and systems change, your presence may be met with discomfort or resistance.
What’s most disappointing is the stark disconnect between Wise’s polished external image and its internal reality. For candidates considering roles here—especially those drawn to mission-driven work, equity, inclusion and support in your career development—approach with eyes wide open. Be prepared to navigate a culture that values conformity over authenticity and optics over impact.
If you’re looking to do meaningful, impactful work alongside people who genuinely value diverse perspectives and respect the expertise you bring, this may not be the right environment—particularly if you’re a person of color.
