My Product Management (PM) Journey: Navigating Product Management
It took me almost two years to get a guide on how to transition into the product management field. Being someone who is inquisitive and preferring to seek clarity before investing in anything, I had to do lots of research before I finally learned how to go about my PM journey.
I started my product management journey in 2022 by learning the necessary fundamentals of becoming a product manager, and I am still in the learning phase. I’ll share how you can do this in this piece, too.
Kindly note that I am not a career consultant; the insights I’ll be sharing here are strictly based on my findings and the results I have obtained from trying them out. Ensure you know and do what works for you, too.
How I’m Transitioning
1. Research, Determination, and Consistency
First, after I decided to try out the role, I had to research product management and other tech fields. This helped me to see if my background experience and skills were aligned with product management. Determination and consistency also helped me keep going daily as I was able to adjust my daily schedule to accommodate learning the necessary skills to become a product manager.
P.s: A degree in Computer Science or Product Management is an added advantage.
2. Networking
So, this phrase might seem too “common.” I mean, when you ask most successful people how they do stuff, they keep saying things like “network,” “meet people,” “leave your comfort zone,” and so on. The truth is they are right. You see, I was in the dark all this while. I knew I wanted to become a product manager, but I didn’t know the right channel or people to speak to. I got so confused seeing so many takes on social media, but eventually, I met a product manager and learned to ask the right questions.
Where to network
- Meet and discuss with product managers. You can connect with them online via professional platforms like LinkedIn or by attending tech events.
- Join Product Management communities like ProductDive, People in Product, Mind the Product and other communities where you can find product managers like Tech4Dev, Ingressive4Good (I4G), SheCodeAfrica, and GenZTechies.
- Ask around; you could have a techie or a product manager around you who can guide you.
Tips on Networking
As an introvert, I initially found networking quite challenging. But I was able to overcome this. Here’s how you can do this, too.
- Have something to offer: This does not imply you have to pay to network. What I mean here is to simply ensure you don’t go and waste people’s time. Whenever you have a chance to speak with product managers, let them know you have done your research; this way, they become more interested in guiding you. If you have some projects you’ve worked on, here is the best time to discuss them. In essence, let people you are connecting with know you have put in some work.
- Show interest in people: from my experience, people tend to listen when I start a conversation about them or their achievements. You can use this approach when beginning a conversation.
- Ask questions and take note: Seek clarity if anyone’s conversation is unclear by asking the right questions.
- Be focused: Don’t get too distracted talking about personal experiences irrelevant to the purpose of the meeting. For example, don’t ask people questions like “why are you married,” “why are you this slim,” etc. Be professional to avoid losing that opportunity.
- Be appreciative: appreciate people taking the time to meet or guide you. Getting a roadmap before embarking on any career goal is always a privilege, so be grateful to people for the help.
3. Upskilling and Training
I’m currently going through this phase, and I want you to know that it requires discipline to stick to it. Upskilling is where you get all the requirements to become a product manager. It could be training, certifications, hard skills, soft skills, portfolio building, etc.
You can join a product management boot camp, school, or mentorship program to upskill. This can be for four weeks, months, or years, depending on the type of training you embark on. Here, you’ll need discipline, focus, and consistency.
Here are some recommended communities/institutions. You can check out – Tech4Dev, ProductDive, AltSchool Africa, ALX Africa, and Ingressive4Good.
P.S.: Tech4Dev and Ingressive4Good offer 100% scholarships on all tech courses. You can apply for opportunities via their websites.
4. Mentorship
Getting a PM mentor is often a rare privilege; if you are lucky to get this, use that opportunity wisely. Mentors will guide you through every step of the way; they can help you identify areas for improvement, making it easy for you to scale through your transition process seamlessly. Mentors can be found in tech communities or on professional platforms.
Hint: look out for product managers who have experience building real products. They understand the industry better and will help you scale through conveniently. You can check out Nnamdi Azodo, Tobi Otokiti, Babatunde Ogidan, and Ope Adeoye.
Welp! I’ll be dropping my pen here. I feel like I have shared a lot. So, guys, here is where I am currently, and it has been fun. I’ll share more about my upskilling journey in my next piece. Ensure you turn on your notification for the update.
Thanks for reading!
