Growth without limits: Alexandre Deffenain on learning and leading at Revolut

Growth and the pursuit of ambitious goals are at the core of Revolut’s culture. We empower our people with the opportunities and support they need to reach their full potential — a mindset that fuels both innovation and impact.

In this interview, we spotlight Alexandre Deffenain, Head of Product Design. From starting as a Junior Product Designer to leading a team shaping the future of finance, his journey exemplifies the rapid growth possible at Revolut. Alexandre reflects on his evolution, the lessons he’s learned, and what’s next.

Alexandre, how did your journey at Revolut begin? 

It all began when I was actively seeking internships, which I needed to do to complete my Master's degree in Interaction Design, and also to apply my knowledge in a real-world setting. I wanted to be part of an innovative company with an exciting product, and Revolut was at the top of my list. At the time, there weren’t any internship positions available. However, after a thorough interview process where I could demonstrate my skills and knowledge, they recognised my potential and offered me a role as a Junior Product Designer instead. I was thrilled at this opportunity and jumped in without hesitation.

How has your role — and your growth — evolved since you first joined Revolut? 

From day one, I was encouraged to take on new challenges. At Revolut, it’s not about how long you’ve been in a role, or your job title — it’s about your ability to take on responsibility and make an impact. As I demonstrated my skills, eagerness to learn, and passion for solving problems, I was trusted with increasingly ambitious projects.

This approach allowed me to take on more responsibilities and ultimately advance to my current role as Head of Product Design. Revolut’s culture of empowering people to rise to challenges has been a driving force behind our incredible growth, as well as my own.

How would you describe the learning and growth culture at Revolut?

I think real professional development goes beyond formal training‌ — ‌it’s about taking on challenges and seizing opportunities. As a Revoluter, you’re empowered to own projects, make impactful decisions, and learn by doing. That hands-on experience has been invaluable to my growth.

Another key factor is the people. Working alongside talented colleagues and solving complex problems together accelerates learning in ways that theory alone never could. This combination of autonomy, collaboration, and continuous challenge creates an environment where growth happens naturally. Revolut doesn’t just encourage learning — it enables you to apply it in meaningful ways, and that has helped propel my growth.

Are there any leaders or mentors who have played a key role in your growth? 

I haven’t had just one mentor — instead, I’ve been fortunate to learn from an incredibly talented team across different areas of product design. Collaborating with many product design experts with diverse specialisations and skills like UI, technical design, project management, strategic thinking, and organisation, has been key.

Collaboration itself is the best mentor. Working with a broad range of teams has deepened my understanding of decision-making processes and helped me build essential skills in our dynamic environment. Without a doubt, this experience has boosted my learning in a practical and effective way.

Now that you're in a leadership role, how do you impact the learning and growth of other Revoluters?

As Head of Product Design, one of my main responsibilities is to help my team grow. This involves identifying their strengths and providing them with the necessary space to express their skills, so they can tackle new challenges and develop.

I don't believe in just giving direct solutions — I focus on asking the right questions to empower the team to find their own answers. This strengthens their problem-solving abilities and, crucially, their decision-making skills.

Revolut’s open and collaborative approach fosters a highly accessible and collaborative learning environment, where knowledge sharing is embedded into our daily work. This openness to learning across teams creates a fast-moving, high-growth workplace where development is constant and mutual.

How does Revolut foster a unique growth environment?

Revolut fosters a unique growth environment through diverse learning and development opportunities. For example, Talent Programmes accelerate the growth of interns and graduates, and initiatives like Spires enable career pivots into programming and engineering. This multifaceted environment offers various pathways for professional development, fosters a culture of continuous learning, and emphasises cross-team knowledge sharing to drive growth.

What do you enjoy most about working at Revolut?

What I love most about Revolut is our mission to be the future of finance. Working towards a purpose I genuinely believe in keeps me motivated. I also appreciate our dynamic work culture — one that isn’t bound by tradition but continuously seeks innovative and effective solutions. This includes offering flexibility and autonomy, which I find to be key to maintaining focus, driving productivity, and ensuring continuous learning.

Lastly, the impact of our work is hugely rewarding. Seeing millions of people use our products reinforces the real value of what we do. It’s inspiring to be part of a team that consistently delivers meaningful change

Any advice for those looking to grow at Revolut and in the world of product design?

To grow professionally, you need to be proactive and outcome-oriented. It’s about taking initiative and experimenting with ideas to learn and improve continuously. Showing you can get things done is the key to rapid career progression.

And for those pursuing a career in product design, don’t just focus on tools or techniques. The real differentiator is the impact of your designs. Can you measure their success? Do they drive results? Demonstrating that you design with purpose and deliver real value is what sets you apart in this field.

Learning drives innovation at Revolut. Growth isn’t solitary‌ — ‌it happens through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and tackling challenges together. Our culture of continuous learning accelerates development and fuels progress.

Alexandre’s story reflects our commitment to unlocking potential. We believe in empowering people with opportunities to achieve great things‌ — ‌and his journey is proof of that.