People first, tech always

People first, tech always 

Abhishek (‘Abhi’) Mishra lights up when technology works the way it should, but even more when people around him grow. “I’m a tech guy through and through,” he says, “but what really motivates me is working with sharp, curious colleagues and helping young talent take their first steps.” 

Abhi began his career in India after graduating with a degree in engineering, later moving to London and eventually the Netherlands. He worked as a consultant for several banks, gaining a broad view of how financial institutions build and run technology. “ING immediately stood out,” he recalls. “They genuinely put technology at the centre. They build dependable applications, and support both growth and work-life balance. With that combination of engineering rigor and a supportive culture, taking a permanent role at ING felt like a natural fit.” 

‘ING combines engineering rigor and a supportive culture’ 

Today, Abhi is Architect Lead working on ING’s Business Lending Engine, a system that automates the daily administration of business loans and overdrafts. “The goal is to eliminate errors and speed up repetitive tasks. So, our human expertise can be used to build the business and develop new products.” 

In parallel, Abhi works as a Senior Java Engineer, moving between architecture leadership and hands-on development each day. “I contribute to design and implementation, write and review code and help teams apply clean code and strong design practices. My focus is ensuring the systems meet business needs while staying aligned with ING’s broader architecture.” 

The value of AI 

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly visible part of his work. Abhi recognises the value AI can bring, but he is equally clear eyed about its limits. “Different models are built for different purposes and understanding what they can and cannot do matters. At a bank like ING, where trust and security are non-negotiable, responsible use of AI is a given, not an afterthought.” 

‘Coding is just one piece of building good software. Reliable systems require broader thinking’ 

He sees AI as a strong accelerator, but he’s clear about its limits. “Coding is just one piece of building good software. Reliable systems require broader thinking. Scaling for growth, identifying bottlenecks, preparing for future features, and avoiding changes that could impact customers. That kind of judgement comes from engineering fundamentals, not from generating code faster.” 

The human side 

What matters most to him, though, is the human side of the job. “It’s fantastic to work with kind, collaborative colleagues who challenge each other constructively. And it’s amazing to see our products help people in their daily work.” Abhi is also a strong supporter of ING’s IT Class. “It gives graduates a chance to rotate across teams, explore different technologies, and learn how engineering practices work in the real world. I wish I’d had that kind of support when I was younger.”