Shrawan Kumar Saraogi is the APAC Head of Expansion at Wise, leading a team spread across 10 markets

Based in Singapore, he is responsible for expanding and deepening Wise's presence in the region and managing Wise's relationships with regulators, governments, payment systems, and banking partners across the region.

Prior to Wise, SK was the Head of Strategy at Funding Societies, a Singapore-based fintech which provides financial services to SMEs across SEA.

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👋🏼  How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

My job entails planting the Wise flag in markets across Asia Pacific and ensuring it soars high. In practice, this  means leading a rockstar team of Country Managers and Expansion Managers to launch and scale Wise products and services across the region.  I work closely with cross-functional teams at Wise including Product, Engineering, Compliance, Operations, to build better products and experiences for customers, and manage our relationships with regulators and banking partners.

Together, we’re on a mission to revolutionize how people move and manage money across borders, making a real impact in every market we operate in.

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🧐  What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

The level of knowledge required to scale and launch in new markets. One of our key priorities is to continue our expansion to new markets and bring more of Wise to existing markets.

Asia Pacific is a region that’s diverse in culture, language, perspective, industry landscape etc. Each market is unique, and what works in Europe or in the UK might not necessarily apply here. Apart from understanding the regulatory aspect and technical infrastructure of a new market, we need to also deeply understand the customer behaviors so that we can adapt and cater to their needs.

At Wise, we have a team of over 5,500 people across 125+ nationalities - which allows us to appreciate and embrace this diversity in every region.

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🏆  What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

It’s hard to pinpoint one thing, but what stands out as a constant characteristic of my career is the dynamic journey I've been on. I've had the privilege of working at fantastic companies where I've transitioned between roles and teams. This continuous evolution has fueled my learning and growth, keeping my work consistently exciting. As a result, those dreaded Monday Blues have been a rare occurrence for me.

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🔍  What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?

Carbon removal space. Carbon emissions are a huge global issue, and despite our ongoing efforts, we're not reducing them quickly enough. I believe innovative carbon removal technologies can give us a fighting chance in combating climate change. This is a global challenge that requires urgent solutions, and the advancements in this field could profoundly impact the future of our planet.

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💼  What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

At Wise, we believe every role plays a crucial part in enhancing people’s lives through seamless, efficient cross border payments. Keep updated with the industry’s rapid evolution and embrace your role in driving positive change. These factors can be highly motivating and make your work truly fulfilling!

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🗣  What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

My friends would say I can talk about anything for hours. But lately, you'll find me passionately discussing how Wise is building the next generation of cross-border payments infrastructure.

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🎥  What's your favorite movie/TV show?

It’s hard to pick just one favorite, but Seinfeld comes close. It’s a show about nothing and there's something incredibly enjoyable about the humor in everyday situations and the charm of doing nothing.

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🍨  What's your go-to ice cream flavor?

Anything with chocolate!