Revolut Career Journeys: 5 minutes with Alara Erisen

Welcome to our interview series, where we shed a spotlight on the Rev-celerator Ambassadors who are shaping the future of finance — while mentoring the next generation of talent.

In this interview, we get to know Alara Erisen, Operating Principal at Revolut. Alara shares her advice for students and grads who are job searching, plus why Revolut is such an exciting company to kickstart a career in.

Tell us about your role at Revolut? 

I’m an Operating Principal in the CEO's Office, working directly with the Chief of Staff. The Operating Principal role is incredibly flexible and dynamic. Revolut is a highly KPI-driven company, where key performance indicators cascade from the company level down to departments, teams, and individuals. Ops Principals and Partners are assigned to these top-level KPIs, collaborating with senior stakeholders across departments to deliver the most critical projects.

At its core, my role revolves around problem-solving and stakeholder management. Whether it’s finding solutions to complex challenges, building the sponsorship spine across the organisation, or driving execution, it’s all about getting **it done in a super fast-paced environment.

How does the career you wanted to pursue as a graduate align with where you are today? 

I had completed 7 internships across different industries during my high school and undergraduate years, which gave me a solid understanding of what I liked‌ — ‌and more importantly, what I didn't want to do in the long term. An important experience was during my penultimate year of an internship in management consulting, where I eventually started my career. I wanted to build a strong foundation at a place where the experience would carry weight and open doors, regardless of where I decided to go next. 

I’m Turkish, and back then, I was living in Istanbul. At the time, there were only a handful of companies where I could gain such broad experience. I chose consulting because it gave me the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds‌ — ‌both within the firm and on the client side — while also gaining insights across various sectors. This experience ignited my problem-solving skills, which remain central to my work today.

Through my consulting experience, internships, and MBA years, I developed an affinity for financial services. At a basic level, I was drawn to being "close to the money" because I found it exciting. I also saw financial services as a somewhat archaic industry with huge opportunities for disruption and innovation. It’s one of the most challenging sectors where you’re constantly being pushed to grow, and the potential for career advancement is massive. What made it even more intriguing was that it’s traditionally a male-dominated field. I'm driven to thrive in an environment like this — to stand out, and contribute to breaking the mould of leadership in this space.

Looking back, my definition of an ideal work environment hasn’t changed. It’s always been about being in a fast-paced, challenging space with innovators. Revolut offers exactly that.  

Why is Revolut such an exciting company to kickstart a career in? 

Revolut is the ideal place to start your career because of its fast-paced environment and opportunities for growth. Early in your career, it’s crucial to focus on where you can best develop your skillset, and Revolut is known for setting a really high talent bar. Working here pays off later‌ down the line — ‌you’ll sharpen your skills by working alongside brilliant minds. 

To me, it’s no surprise that Revolut alumni frequently make headlines, whether they’re holding senior roles at Revolut or other top companies, or even founding their own startups. Revolut instils discipline and a unique approach to problem-solving, and these skills are highly recognised and valued, no matter where you might end up.

On top of that, Revolut offers flexibility in how you work, which is something that can be hard to find. With a remote-first approach, you can work remotely to suit your lifestyle — or even relocate to our other Revolut hubs across Europe. Personally, I relish the opportunity to work from home in London, where I can balance a demanding but fulfilling workday with more time spent with my mini-schnauzer. 

What do you most enjoy about your work with interns and grads?

I’ve had multiple conversations with our interns and grads, whether in 1-2-1 meetings or training sessions, where they’ve impressed me with their sharp focus on long-term career goals. They’re not just thinking about what they’re doing today — they’re asking the right questions to map out where they want to be in the future and how to get there. This kind of passion, curiosity, and clarity is inspiring, and I have no doubt that if they keep this up, they’ll achieve their ambitions.

Additionally, interns and grads excel when given ownership at Revolut. While they receive plenty of guidance and mentorship, Revolut’s approach ensures that this never turns into micromanagement. Autonomy is a core part of our culture, even at the start of someone’s career. I work closely with one of our grads, and time and again, he’s delivered high-quality work and found creative solutions to complex problems. We regularly check in, and I provide feedback, but he consistently takes that feedback, makes the solution his own, and executes it brilliantly. It’s exciting to see talent rapidly grow when trusted with responsibility early on.

What makes Revolut’s Talent Programmes — our Rev-celerator Internship and Graduate Programmes — such empowering career launchpads?

Revolut’s Talent Programmes stand out because of the autonomy interns and graduates are granted from the outset. You’ll be trusted with full ownership of your KPIs or projects, and‌ learn directly from some of the best in the business. It’s a challenging environment, but you're trained and supported by excellent mentors. As Europe’s most valuable private tech company, Revolut offers an experience that's recognised globally, opening doors to opportunities worldwide.

We also offer fast-track promotions for top performers, enabling you to accelerate your career and take on greater responsibilities earlier than in more traditional career paths.

Do you have any advice for students and grads who are searching for jobs? 

Your first job isn’t your destination, it’s about setting a solid foundation. Choose a company with a high talent bar, and be prepared to work hard during those early years. It'll pay off, and you’ll thank yourself later for investing that time and effort upfront.

I wouldn’t recommend the "spray and pray" approach where you apply to as many jobs as possible without much thought. Instead, apply to a manageable number of roles and dedicate substantial time into researching those companies. This means going beyond just reading what’s online. Reach out and network with people working at those companies. I think early-career candidates can underestimate how valuable it is to ask for coffee chats. When I was job hunting, I’d persistently send LinkedIn messages to people, and the conversations that came from this proactive approach gave me insights into their day-to-day work, company culture, and valuable advice on the application process.

Finally, regarding interviews — you can learn a lot about a company and a role based on how they conduct their interviews. Tough interviews aren’t just there to challenge you, they often reflect the kind of demands you’ll encounter on the job. So, prepare thoroughly, and use the process to assess whether their working style aligns with how you want to grow. Always have thoughtful, interesting questions ready for the end of the interview‌ — ‌it’s a great opportunity to leave a lasting impression and learn more about the role.

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