Sometimes, you have to be the first—but make sure you’re never the last. That’s the principle Ricardo Razon lives by, and it’s shaped his path as a software engineer, mission-driven builder, and advocate for access.
From his first computer science class in high school to building products his family and friends now use every day, Ricardo brings a human lens to technology—one that honors identity, legacy, and the real people on the other side of the screen.
For Black History Month, we sat down with Ricardo to talk about his journey into tech, the stories that shaped him, and what it means to build equity into the products we create.
Q: Let’s start with your journey. How did you get on your path as a software engineer?
My mom had a rule: all of her kids had to take at least one computer science class. If we liked it, great. If not, that was okay too. I took my first class in freshman year of high school and stuck with it.
I’ve always loved the problem-solving side of tech. But over time, I realized it’s not just about solving abstract problems—it’s about what you do with the solutions. As I got deeper into engineering, I saw how much leverage you have to build systems that give people confidence, that create access. That’s what drew me in.
Q: What brought you to Chime, and what keeps you here?
I’ve always been drawn to spaces that stand for something. When I was exploring internships, I heard about Chime, and the more I learned and saw how Chime’s mission shows up in everything we do, the more I realized that Chime actually walks the talk.
As an intern, I felt like I could see myself here. The early talent team created space for me to bring my full identity and perspective to Chime, and that’s not something I took for granted.
Now, in my full-time role, I get to build experiences that my friends and family use. That makes the work personal—and powerful.
Q: Tell us a bit about your current role.
I’m on the Growth team, focused on how we help new members ramp into Chime and feel proud to use us in their daily lives. We’re thinking about how we become the first banking app people reach for, how to be the one they trust and rely on.
Primarily, that means reducing friction, building clarity, and making every part of the member journey easier, especially for people who might be hesitant to switch to Chime.
I believe software should never detract—only add to your experience—so I love that I get to work on making sure Chime does that for our members.
Q: Looking back, what shaped your perspective as an engineer?
My family instilled in me a very firm understanding of the fact that you might have to be the first at something, but you should make sure you’re never the last. In college, I led Harvard’s Generational African American Students Association—an organization specifically for students who are descendants of enslaved and freed Black Americans—and we helped expand to several additional campuses. While we were the first, we weren’t going to be the last. Leading the organization was one of the most formative experiences of my life. We created space for conversations that weren’t happening anywhere else on campus and truly built something from the ground up.
That experience shaped how I think about impact. I realized I wanted to work in mission-driven spaces where identity isn’t a side note, but instead, core to the work.
Q: What does it mean to you to build in fintech as a Black professional?
It means bringing my full self to the table—not filtering my experiences out of the technical solutions I’m designing or the way I work with my team.
We have to be honest about the fact that fintech and banking haven’t been neutral spaces. As engineers, we have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to make sure we’re removing barriers instead of reinforcing them and I believe that we do our best work when our number one focus is who’s on the other side of the screen.
Q: How do you define success in your career?
It’s about the little things that improve someone’s day. Moving a button to a better spot. Making it easier to transfer money. Helping someone switch to Chime without confusion.
Success is removing friction. It’s creating more joy. It’s designing with the mindset that the person on the other end deserves dignity and simplicity, not more hoops to jump through.
Q: The theme of this year’s Black History Month is A Century of Black Style, Sound & Story. How does that resonate with you?
The origin of Black History Month started with Carter G. Woodson—the second Black person to earn a PhD from Harvard. I studied his work, and being on that same campus a century later made it feel very full circle.
Growing up, I was a huge fan of historical fiction—especially stories from the civil rights era told from the perspective of young Black people. MLK, Obama, those were the figures I looked up to. But so were the people in my own life.
My mom and my twin sister are both in tech. My mom was often the first in her roles. My sister studied CS and education, just like me. When she’s feeling imposter syndrome, I remind her: you belong here. And she does the same for me. That’s the kind of support that matters.
Q: What advice would you give to other Black professionals navigating tech?
Build your receipts.
Document your wins, whether they’re big or small. Systemic oppression can make us feel like we have to downplay our excellence. But your accomplishments are real. Write them down. Keep track. No one can take them from you.
Find your people.
Mentors, advocates, peers. You can’t do it alone. And once you find your community, pay it forward.
Protect your joy.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Take things as they come and hold onto the parts of the work that light you up.
Q: What’s one thing you want readers to understand about your story?
I’m here to build access—and to build confidence.
I know what it feels like to go up against systems that don’t give you the best. That’s why I’m committed to doing the opposite. My goal is to leave fintech better than I found it—for the next person, and the one after that.
Q: Any member stories that stick with you?
One of my friends is from a small town in Georgia. She became a Chime member because she was looking for something that actually worked for people in rural America—folks who are too often left behind.
She gives me feedback on our features all the time. Watching her love for Chime grow has been one of the most rewarding parts of this job.
Q: One last one—what’s a moment at Chime you’re especially proud of?
Going back to my internship in 2024, I was part of a career development panel for the Chime Scholars Foundation. As someone who also studied education, it meant a lot to be involved in work that went beyond code.
That panel reminded me why I do this. We’re not just building features. We’re building futures.
