An unconventional and diverse path from agriculture to tech leadership and fireside chats on AI

By Damilola Fatunmise

 

 Tumilara Hassan’s journey into the tech industry is a compelling example of adaptability and relentless drive. With an academic foundation in Plant Biology and a Master’s degree in Agronomy focused on in-vitro plant breeding/biotechnology, she was deeply in agriculture and along the line also developed a passion for environmental sustainability and innovation which drove her to explore solutions that bridged science and practical applications.

 

While agriculture and technology may appear to be distinct fields, the problem solving skills, resource optimization strategies and focus on value-creation she picked up early on became the foundation for her success as a tech leader. When asked about the transferable skills from her early career, Tumilara shared: “Agriculture taught me the importance of resource management and adaptability.

 

Whether it’s enhancing plant growth in the lab or scaling a tech product, the objective remains the same, which is to create value with limited resources.” She continued, “Patience and iterative planning were invaluable lessons I learned early on. Just as crops require time and careful nurturing to thrive, developing impactful tech solutions demands sustained effort, attention to detail and a commitment to long term sustainability.” Tumilara’s professional path soon took an exciting turn when she joined Cooperative Mortgage Bank as a Relationship Manager, where she developed her skills in client management and business development.

 

This role sparked her curiosity about business analysis, a skill that later became central to her career in technology. Her growing interest in tech led her to Touch and Pay Technologies, the flagship company behind the Cowry Card.

 

The Cowry Card, which provides tap payment services for over 55,000 buses in Lagos State—the largest economy in West Africa—has since expanded to include savings and investment options on its platform.

 

At Touch and Pay, Tumilara oversaw the entire product development process, from ideation to distribution, playing a pivotal role in the company’s growth. Building on her success at Touch and Pay, she joined Blackcopper as a POS Product Manager, further expanding her expertise in product development.

 

Her upward trajectory continued at Fast Credit Limited, where she started as a Senior Product Manager and was later promoted to Head of Mobile Banking. In this role, she led the development of cutting-edge digital banking solutions, including features like funds transfers, account onboarding, and biometric KYC verification.

 

Despite her demanding roles, Tumilara co-founded NucleusIS Africa, where she served as both Chief Operations Officer and Chief Products Officer. Her leadership and vision have been instrumental in NucleusIS’s development as a pioneering financial platform for the healthcare sector, providing services such as loans, cross-border payments, and collections.

 

Her passion for leadership and innovation has extended to mentoring and advisory roles. She facilitated mentorship sessions for young entrepreneurs as part of the Orange Corners initiative, a program supported by the government of the Netherlands.

 

In addition, she led and coordinated an innovative team of forward-thinking students that won the Hult Prize Nigeria finals in 2018 and qualified for the global regional finals in Boston, USA.

 

These experiences reflect her commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders. Tumilara’s fascination with artificial intelligence has further propelled her career. She sees AI as a transformative force capable of revolutionizing industries and has integrated AI into product management to enhance operational efficiency and unlock new opportunities.

 

Her contributions, from predictive analytics to AI-driven customer insights, have left a significant mark on the tech industry. Beyond her technical expertise, Tumilara is a dynamic networker and thought leader, organizing and hosting impactful fireside chats that foster dialogue on technology and innovation.

 

Through her expertly curated fireside chats she has created platforms where industry leaders share insights from their wealth of experience. Her events, such as “The AI Advantage for Product Management”, “Innovation or Regulation: Which Way for AI?”, and the most recent “AI and the Future of Finance”, have featured distinguished speakers like Laolu Samuel-Biyi, Co-founder of Busha; Olumide Okubadejo, Head of Products, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning at Sabi; Dapo Awobokun, Startup Partner at Paystack; Eyituoyo Mogbeyi, Head of Compliance and Risk at Budpay; Demola Adeniran, Divisional Head for Paytoken Business at Interswitch; and Ayo Popoola, Lead Product Manager at 54 Collective, among others.

 

The ability to convene such accomplished professionals is a testament to Tumilara’s deep connections within the tech ecosystem and her reputation as a trusted voice in fostering meaningful dialogue. These events have grown into knowledge sharing hubs, empowering participants to share explore cutting-edge ideas and collaborate on innovative solutions.

 

When asked how she managed to bring together such a distinguished group of experts, Tumilara credited her years of experience in the industry. “As you move along in the industry, you naturally build a peer network,” she explained. “Actively connecting with these people ensures that five to ten years down the line, your network reflects those connections.” Tumilara also values continuous learning, holding certifications that demonstrate her commitment to staying at the forefront of her field.

 

These include the Product Leader Certification and Artificial Intelligence Micro-Certification from Product School, San Francisco, the Fintech Product Manager Certification from Digital Frontiers Institute Capetown SA, as well as a certification in Card Payments, Strategy, and Operations from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Scheme.

 

 

 

 

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