International Courant
My Pivot Journal is a Ventures Africa weekly sequence documenting folks’s profession transitions from one sector to a different, particularly into expertise.
Kenechukwu Nwankwo had a promising profession as an architect. However he realized he wasn’t having fun with it as a lot as he thought. He wished to attempt one thing completely different and extra satisfying. Right here is Kenechukwu’s pivotal diary.
The way it began
Initially, I wished to review methods engineering and bought into it. Nonetheless, additional arithmetic was a prerequisite for any engineering course and I didn’t take it in WAEC. So I needed to accept my second alternative, which was Structure. Earlier than I graduated, I acquired a job supply from Landmark Africa, a preferred improvement firm in Lagos. I had finished my IT there, so it made sense to return there. After I joined them as an intern, they solely had an occasion middle. I used to be a part of the journey to convey up initiatives just like the Arduous Rock Cafe, the movie show and the Landmark Seashore. I labored there for over three years, beginning as an architect but in addition delving deeper into improvement, which concerned discovering places, developing with concepts for places, remodeling the places and making a living.
Revelation
It was throughout COVID in 2020, it hit me. They requested me to return to the workplace in the course of the lockdown. I assumed it was absurd as a result of I did not have to return to the workplace to design. I had additionally grown bored with the infinite revisions and tedious design work. One of many issues that annoyed me as an architect was the fixed demand for extra designs. Typically a buyer would give me a short or obscure concept of what he wished. I’d do the primary draft after which they’d ask me to present three extra examples. That is one other means of claiming three full drafts. I began to query my profession path as an architect. I needed to ask myself troublesome questions, What did I get from this? Was structure one thing I wished to do long-term?
I attempted to maneuver into the event administration aspect of structure, however that did not work out both as a result of we did not have one other architect on the time. I did not see myself doing structure in the long run. I made a decision to discover different choices. In some way expertise had all the time been near me, as a result of my father works in expertise. I keep in mind getting my first pc when children have been taking part in with toys. I did some analysis and noticed the alternatives expertise supplied. After I did the evaluation and weighed my choices, it made sense for me to maneuver to expertise.
Kenechukwu Nwankwo
Transition
I wasn’t certain which function in expertise would swimsuit me greatest. I considered product design, in any case I had a design background, however I additionally had PTSD. I attempted to be taught software program engineering, however I struggled with JavaScript. I used to be in search of one thing that may permit me to mix my pursuits and expertise into one thing stunning. That is how I found product administration.
Product administration was a brand new and thrilling subject. I am a visible learner, so I began studying as a lot as I may from YouTube and video-based programs. I took a product administration course Dare and some programs additional Product college. It was in the course of the Black Lives Matter motion, so I took benefit of the reductions supplied to black folks. Then I joined all of the product communities I may discover. I joined Product administration Africa, a neighborhood that began on WhatsApp earlier than transferring to Slack. I joined Product tank Lagos. I went there, sat down, listened to what they needed to say and networked. I additionally began making use of for jobs nearly instantly, however I could not get one.
I had the chance to take part in a Product Administration Africa program. They positioned aspiring product managers in firms or initiatives for 3 months. It regarded like an internship. As a part of that program, we have been assigned mentors who guided us and supplied suggestions. Whereas I used to be nonetheless in this system, a former colleague from Landmark contacted me. He advised me a couple of mission I had beforehand labored on that had grown into a college. That they had a program for product managers and he thought I’d be an excellent match. I utilized and was chosen. I joined this system on the finish of 2020 and simply continued to enhance my PM expertise.
One of many challenges I confronted in the course of the transition was skepticism from potential employers. They checked out my CV and requested me why I utilized for a product function after I was an architect. It had a means of undermining one’s self-confidence. But it surely did not cease me from looking out. I needed to discover a job shortly. I made certain to avoid wasting cash proper earlier than I give up my job as an architect. It might final me a yr, but it surely was gone earlier than I anticipated. Fortunately I discovered one thing earlier than I ran out of choices.
Google was an excellent supply for locating roles. I picked up some hacks for locating product roles that weren’t closely marketed. I’d use Google to filter the search outcomes by particular websites and key phrases. For instance, I kind ‘website:lever. co” after which worker product supervisor inside citation marks. This is able to present me all of the affiliate product supervisor roles on Lever, a recruiting platform. I utilized for as many as I may. After nearly a yr of studying and making use of, I lastly landed my first function as an affiliate product supervisor. Then I felt like I may chill out and give attention to creating myself in method.
My first tradition shock working in tech was the idea of distant work. I used to be like “Are you severe? That is superb!” Nonetheless, this affected my preferences for future roles. I grew to become extra eager about totally distant roles than hybrid roles. Distant work additionally introduced with it extra expectations. I needed to be taught to speak higher with my colleagues and purchasers as a result of I could not see them in individual. Stakeholder administration was additionally completely different. In development I used to be aware of the area and the expectations of the stakeholders. With software program, I needed to shortly be taught what the builders have been doing and the way to inform in the event that they have been being trustworthy with me. I additionally confronted conflicting calls for from two senior managers who pulled me in numerous instructions. One other tradition shock was working with youthful folks. In the actual property and development trade, most of my colleagues have been older and had households. Within the expertise trade, even the co-founders have been of their twenties.
I additionally needed to be taught many technical phrases to contribute to conferences and drive the corporate’s initiatives. If I did not perceive half the issues mentioned in a gathering, I could not contribute successfully. Even after I repeated what I heard, my supervisor would ask me follow-up questions that I could not reply. I additionally had bother with buyer assist. In development, I did not deal instantly with clients as a result of it was a B2B firm. However within the expertise sector, it was a B2C firm Throughout the weekends I needed to cope with a variety of assist points. The way in which I handled it was to group the issues by class. I centered on fixing the issues that have been recurring or pressing. I requested for assist and delegated some issues to my group members. I additionally grew to become extra affected person and empathetic in direction of the customers.
How are you
I’m a senior product supervisor at Mono, a fintech firm that provides open banking companies. A typical day for me begins with stand-ups: brief, each day conferences to debate progress and establish blockages. To do that, I test product efficiency and see if there are any points that I have to report within the standups. I then meet with my group to search out out what everyone seems to be engaged on that day, and if there are any blockages or dependencies. I then spend half-hour to an hour studying up on the newest tendencies and developments in our trade, corresponding to laws, opponents and buyer suggestions. Then within the afternoon I work on any documentation I have to replace or create based mostly on the discussions and selections we make. I additionally deal with any assist points that come up in the course of the day and talk with stakeholders and clients if needed.
Essentially the most thrilling factor about product administration is understanding that I can do issues that change the world. For instance, my firm does open banking, which permits folks to entry and use their monetary information in numerous methods. This could enhance issues like credit score and monetary inclusion. It is also thrilling to work with a number of the smartest and most passionate folks ever. My transferable expertise assist. My designers wish to work with me as a result of I’ve an excellent sense of design and consumer expertise. I can spot potential issues and recommend enhancements that may profit them. I also can create low-fidelity and high-fidelity designs, however I am primarily specializing in the low-fidelity designs proper now. Alternatively, working in fintech comes with a excessive danger of fraud and cyber assaults. We should all the time concentrate on our safety and compliance. As well as, the Central Financial institution of Nigeria could change laws at any time and have an effect on our operations.
I’ve seen myself working in expertise for a very long time. What I may change is possibly exploring the intersection between actual property and fintech, which might nonetheless be largely fintech. There are a selection of tech firms doing fascinating issues on this house right now, and I feel I’ve an excellent background in actual property and fintech to contribute to that.
Profession hack
To get the abilities I would like for the roles I need, I have a look at the job descriptions for these roles and discover the key phrases or expertise they want. I then create a private improvement plan to be taught these expertise. For instance, if a job wants somebody who is aware of APIs, I’d analysis what APIs are and the way to use them. I’d additionally take on-line programs or tutorials on APIs. If the function is senior and in a sector like fintech, I’d additionally be taught concerning the laws and greatest practices in that sector.
My Pivot Journal: Kenechukwu Nwankwo’s journey from structure to product administration
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