Meet Our SoFi-ety

Startup Speed, SoFi Scale: A Q&A with Senior Director of Engineering

hreynolds@sofi.org (Haley Reynolds) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:08:24 GMT

At SoFi, we aren’t just following the crypto trend; we’re the first national chartered bank where customers can buy, sell, and hold over 25 cryptocurrencies. But how do you integrate the wild west of decentralized finance into the rigorous ecosystem of a regulated bank? We sat down with Kyle, Senior Director of Engineering on the Crypto team, to discuss building a custom crypto platform for SoFi, why he views SoFi’s scale as the ultimate sandbox, and why the hardest technical challenges are often the most rewarding.

Problem-Solver on the Platform: Driving Experience as a SoFi Product Manager

hreynolds@sofi.org (Haley Reynolds) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:52:14 GMT

Ever wondered what it's like to drive the experience behind a massive FinTech platform? We recently sat down with Mariel Salem, Product Manager at SoFi, to discuss her unique role, her career journey from big tech to FinTech, and the collaborative world of financial services product management.

A 'Mini CEO' and Chief Problem-Solver

Mariel sees the Product Manager (PM) role as being like a "mini CEO" of SoFi’s product, specifically in her role on the SoFi Plus & Benefits team. Her oversight spans technical execution, functionality, and, most importantly, the member experience. While PMs touch on aspects of marketing and growth, the core focus remains squarely on the product itself. Mariel's current focus is on the SoFi Plus membership and key member engagement initiatives such as managing subscriptions, rewards, and benefits to enhance the overall value proposition for SoFi members. Mariel seeks to understand problems, and as a PM is constantly identifying pain points and architecting solutions that seamlessly balance member needs with business objectives.

Collaboration and the FinTech Factor

While the role of a Product Manager is common in FinTech spaces, a key difference Mariel highlighted is SoFi’s collaborative structure. Unlike larger tech companies, SoFi PMs engage in shared decision-making. Mariel works closely with engineering and design teams: providing strategic direction to engineers and collaborating on the high-level vision with designers.

Five Years Running: SoFi Recognized as a 2026 Best Place to Work by Built In

hreynolds@sofi.org (Haley Reynolds) — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:08:06 GMT

SoFi has been recognized by Built In as a Best Places to Work in 2026 for the fifth year in a row. The annual awards honor employers across the U.S. whose benefits and compensation set the standard for today’s workforce.

Built In’s Best Places to Work program celebrates the companies shaping the future of work. In a rapidly evolving AI-first job market, recognition as a Best Place to Work helps employers stand out as trusted brands when candidates turn to tools like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews to research where to work next.

For 2026, SoFi was recognized as a winner in five categories:

"We are over the moon to be recognized by Built In as a best place to work," said Ash Core, VP of Talent Acquisition. "At SoFi, we believe that a world-class culture starts with hiring world-class people who are deeply aligned with your mission. Seeing our team celebrated in this way is a testament to how our employees embody The SoFi Way, making our workplace a place where innovation and collaboration happen naturally and our people can thrive."

Paving Your Own Career Path With Product Marketing Manager

hreynolds@sofi.org (Haley Reynolds) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:37:15 GMT

Meet Pablo Ylarri, Senior Product Marketing Manager at SoFi's Tech Platform, Galileo Financial Technologies. Pablo's career has been a dynamic blend of finance, technology, and education. With an MBA and over 16 years of experience teaching Corporate Finance at a local university, his combination of academic rigor and practical experience in banking and fintech has been a cornerstone of his professional journey.

Bridging the Gap: Meet the Veterans in SoFi's MBA Fellowship Program

hreynolds@sofi.org (Haley Reynolds) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 22:44:25 GMT

SoFi is proud to introduce three members of our MBA Fellowship program, a select group of exceptional veterans evolving their leadership skills for the business sector. This fellowship is vital because it recognizes the invaluable leadership, resilience, and unique problem-solving skills veterans gain through their military service. SoFi actively supports these individuals, understanding that their backgrounds and experiences offer incredible perspectives that drive innovation and excellence within our company and beyond. Hear directly from our Fellowship participants on how they used their military backgrounds to solve complex business challenges at SoFi.

Josh Petrovic, Stanford Graduate School of Business
As an MBA candidate at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Joshua’s background is an Army Officer and Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot. After earning a degree in systems engineering from West Point, he spent almost a decade in the military, where he led teams in high-pressure environments. His work at the intersection of operations, logistics, and healthcare gave him a strong foundation in problem-solving and decision-making.

“During my internship, I focused on mapping the financial journey of service members and their families. Key challenges included frequent relocations with unplanned expenses, juggling multiple financial institutions, and uncertainty about how to turn steady military pay into long-term wealth. SoFi is uniquely positioned to help by offering all financial tools in one place and designing tailored solutions for these needs. With direct deposit, members can access paychecks earlier than with traditional banks, giving them more control to manage and grow their money. Paired with SoFi Plus, service members can confidently plan for their future. Having lived many of these challenges myself, I know how valuable it is to have a partner like SoFi that makes finances simpler and more transparent.

The most valuable lesson I gained was the importance of empathy in design. My military background gave me credibility and a deep understanding of the community’s pain points, but the real insight came from translating those challenges into solutions that would resonate with both members and the broader business strategy. Leading in the Army taught me to frame complex missions in a way that’s clear and actionable for diverse teams, which directly applied to collaborating across SoFi’s product, marketing, and compliance groups.

A Blueprint For Better Banking: A Software Engineer’s Journey From Invest To SoFi Bank

hreynolds@sofi.org (Haley Reynolds) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:15:19 GMT

When Leon Johnson joined SoFi's Invest team, he had a clear mission: to build seamless, intuitive financial experiences for members. Now, as a Lead Mobile Engineer on the Bank team, he continues to shape how people interact with their money, from opening new accounts to managing complex financial goals. In this spotlight, Leon discusses a project he's particularly proud of, his transition to a new team, and how working on family banking resonates with him on a personal level as a SoFi member himself.

From Campus to Career: Introducing Our Summer Interns

hreynolds@sofi.org (Haley Reynolds) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:48:18 GMT

The SoFi internship program is designed to identify, engage, and nurture the next generation of leaders. We welcome students and recent graduates to grow their skills, knowledge, and professional networks while working on real-world projects.

The Extern Experience: Cultivating Tomorrow's Fin-Tech Leaders

hreynolds@sofi.org (Haley Reynolds) — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 13:35:32 GMT

At SoFi, our mission is to transform financial lives, a journey that thrives on fresh perspectives, innovative thinking, and dedicated talent. Our sophomore externship program was born from the belief that the students we empower today will become the leaders of tomorrow.

From Stretch Assignment To Career Advancement: How Lydia Began a Career In Tech Through SoFi’s Gig Program

Taylor Sullivan — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:25:56 GMT

Meet Lydia, an IT Support Technician III who provides agents with device troubleshooting and software ticket support. Lydia joined SoFi as an Origination Specialist where she helped support members through the loan application process. Lydia’s passion for IT started when she built her own personal computer which is where she learned the basics of operating systems and troubleshooting. Throughout her career in customer support, Lydia gained experience in solving problems for members, though her interest in IT still persisted.

When Lydia discovered the Gig program at SoFi, she knew it was something she could leverage to try to turn her passion for technology into a career. The Gig Program at SoFi is built on providing internal career agility to members of our organization; it enables employees (Gigsters) to gain experiences in other areas of the business through various stretch assignments while continuing their current responsibilities. SoFi’s Gig Program has proven to be a successful mechanism for employees to move internally; since we launched in 2023, about 30% of Gigsters have made a full time move within one year of their Gig project. We sat down with Lydia to talk through her career transformation through the Gig Program which according to Lydia, was the best career decision she’s ever made.

Tell me about your experience in the Gig Program.

Lydia: My experience with the Gig Program was incredibly rewarding. The IT team I was working with during my Gig was not only welcoming but also highly supportive, offering assistance whenever I needed it. In the short time I was with the team, I gained valuable knowledge with SoFi’s ticketing systems, troubleshooting software and hardware issues. I could see my growth throughout the Gig when the team trusted me to process my own tickets and gave me the autonomy to work through them on my own. By being able to learn while getting hands-on experience in a role, my confidence in my abilities skyrocketed.

What was the most unexpected learning from working with the IT team during your Gig?

Lydia: I didn’t expect to eventually transition to a full-time IT position! When I started the Gig, I knew I wanted to explore areas outside of being an Origination Specialist, and the Gig Program seemed like a good way to do that. Once I started working with the IT team, my love for tackling problems and seeking creative solutions took hold and I knew the stretch assignment I was working on would be a stepping stone into my IT career.

Tell us about a time you worked to overcome a challenge on your Gig project?

Lydia: Transitioning from a customer service background into the tech world was a challenge in itself, but one I was excited to tackle. My role in the Gig Program was on the Service Desk, which meant I needed to quickly get up to speed with new systems and understand the critical importance of security protocols. For instance, I remember initially struggling with troubleshooting network connectivity issues, a common but complex problem for our users. Being new to the field, I had a lot of questions, but thanks to the team’s willingness to walk me through scenarios, I was able to learn quickly. I not only hit the ground running but soon became proficient enough to independently resolve these issues, significantly contributing to faster resolution times for our users.

Give us an example of how you used your skills from previous roles to help you in your Gig work?

Lydia: My background in customer service has been an indispensable asset in my Gig role, particularly in navigating the often-stressful interactions with end-users experiencing technical difficulties. Beyond simply conveying information, my previous roles taught me the profound importance of empathy and de-escalation.

When a user submits a support ticket, they're often already frustrated or anxious because their work is interrupted. My customer service training allows me to approach these situations with patience and a genuine understanding of their inconvenience.

What would your advice be for someone interested in exploring a career in tech?

Lydia: I found the Service Desk to be such a great starting point to an introduction into technology: the dynamic work can help you discover your strengths and interests and will build the foundation for further developing your skills. The Gig program helped me to identify a stretch assignment to practice, so I would suggest seeking out opportunities that will give you the hands-on experience to build your confidence. Additionally, make sure you have the support of a great team who will help you along the way.

Designing Thoughtful Solutions Through Member Experiences: A Product Designers Perspective to Cutting Edge FinTech

hreynolds@sofi.org (Haley Reynolds) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:52:23 GMT

Meet Cloris Cai, Product Designer at SoFi who began her career journey as an intern with the member team. Throughout her time at SoFi, Cloris has contributed to various features on the SoFi app, from foundational systems to member-facing tools like the in-app chatbot and innovations in Relay. Collaboration is central to her work, partnering with researchers, writers, product managers, and engineers to create impactful user experiences. We sat down with Cloris to learn how she uses her background in cognitive science and architectural studies to shape her approach to design and her thoughts on the future of product design relative to AI.