Follow Us on Google
By Rita Okoye
Breaking into product management often involves navigating a steep learning curve, and for Adeola Olorunfemi, her first year in the field was both challenging and rewarding. Transitioning from customer success to her first role as an Associate Product Manager at Glover Technologies Limited, Adeola’s journey offers insights into what it takes to grow in the fast-paced world of tech.
“It was thrilling but humbling,” Adeola shared during our conversation. “I quickly realized that being a product manager requires far more than understanding user needs. It’s about balancing those needs with business goals, collaborating with diverse teams, and making data-driven decisions.”
Starting at the Deep End
Joining Glover Technologies in May 2021, Adeola’s early days were marked by significant challenges. One of her first assignments involved revamping core product features to improve user engagement.
“Prioritizing features was an eye-opener,” she explained. “I had to constantly balance what users wanted with what the business needed and what the engineering team could deliver within tight timelines.”
Her customer success background proved invaluable in this role. “Understanding users and solving their problems had always been central to my work. I leaned on that foundation to build empathy for our users and ensure the solutions we developed addressed their pain points.”
According to Onyedikachi Nwabugwu, Head of Product at Glover Technologies, Adeola’s transition was seamless. “What stood out about Adeola was her ability to adapt quickly and bring a fresh perspective. Her insights from customer success provided a strong foundation for tackling product challenges, and her enthusiasm was infectious across the team.”
For Adeola, data became a cornerstone of her product management approach. “I started tracking key metrics like user engagement, retention rates, and feature adoption,” she said. “These numbers told the story of how our users interacted with the product and guided our roadmap.”
One standout project during her first year was the redesign of a key product feature. Using user behavior insights, Adeola led the effort to simplify workflows and improve usability. The result? A 15% increase in adoption within three months. “That project reinforced the power of combining empathy with data analysis to create impactful solutions,” she reflected.
Nwabugwu praised her analytical approach. “Adeola has a natural ability to combine data with user empathy, which is a rare skill. Her contributions during the redesign were instrumental in enhancing user satisfaction and achieving measurable results.”
Reflecting on her first year, Adeola highlighted some of the lessons that shaped her approach:
1. Collaboration is Key: “Building strong relationships with your team and stakeholders is critical. You can’t do it all alone.”
2. Be Curious: “Ask questions, seek feedback, and never stop learning. Curiosity keeps you adaptable in a dynamic field like product management.”
3. Focus on Outcomes: “Outputs like the number of features launched are great, but the real measure of success is how your product impacts users and drives business goals.”
4. Blend Data with Empathy: “Data provides the evidence, but empathy ensures you’re solving the right problems for users.”
Now a Product Manager at Glover Technologies, Adeola’s first year laid the foundation for her continued growth in the field. “The first year was about learning and finding my footing. Now, it’s about building on that foundation to create impactful products and drive innovation within the tech ecosystem,” she said.
Adeola’s journey is a reminder of the value of perseverance and adaptability in navigating a new field. Her story offers a roadmap for aspiring product managers and a glimpse into what it means to grow in the dynamic world of tech.
