Cracking the Product Manager Code: Get Personal with Vivian Nasieku

?? Calling all professionals! Allow us to introduce you to an outstanding talent within our team: Vivian Nasieku, MSc , the epitome of a customer-centric product manager with an adventurous side! An interview with Viv on her journey at 4G Capital and her passions outside the office.

Can you please give us an overview of KUZA Premium?

Viv: KUZA Premium is a product feature enhancement of the KUZA by 4G Capital product already in the market. It allows us to give higher loan amounts to existing customers who have demonstrated good repayment behaviour. It also helps us reach potential customers who are looking for a product that provides them higher loan limits.

What makes KUZA Premium unique or different from our existing offerings?

Viv: The higher loan limit which is currently at KSH. 250,000 and 7.5M UGX. This will attract customers whose needs are quite different from our existing customers, as they are more exposed to traditional financial institution offerings.

How do you envision KUZA Premium meeting the needs or solving the problems of our target customers?

Viv: It will empower our customers to purchase a fuller basket, which ultimately will help them with their financial management as they will not need to seek multi-funding opportunities.

Our customers will now be able to purchase more stock, increase sales and run more profitable businesses.

As per our tradition, we will complement this with capacity building to empower them to leverage credit to grow their businesses.

About KUZA Premium: 4G Capital works with FMCGs, distributors and other partners to provide retail credit to their clients through our seamless IT integration. Reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Enough about KUZA Premium, let’s get to know Viv and your work at 4G Capital a little bit… What is the most favourite part about your job? What excites you the most?

Viv: My job allows me to help others navigate the world of technology with confidence as most have a healthy fear of it. As a Product Manager I work with business teams to understand how they can leverage technology to work seamlessly to provide market-fit products and services that serve the needs of customers.?

What excites me the most is meeting customers who are using our products that I helped launch. This means they are one step closer to financial inclusion. All of this motivates me to be better.

What do you like the most about working at 4G Capital?

Viv: At the top are the people I work with. I work in a team of true professionals who appreciate ‘It is the journey and not the destination’. They are always willing to share their experiences and knowledge, and humble to learn from others in the team.?

Second is the fact that we are intentionally targeting the informal sector to help them access formal banking services. Most have previously been denied credit from traditional financial institutions or have had disheartening experiences with other lenders. This gives us an opportunity to give them a seat at the financial inclusion table which I think is a noble cause.

What are the everyday challenges you face in your work, and what are the fundamental skills or personal qualities needed to deal with those challenges?

Viv: There are a number honestly, which I should say also make the work dynamics more interesting. I can bet you most Product Managers are frustrated by last minute changes in the game plan. And it is also very frustrating for the business to plan around these last minute changes.

The most important skill for my role is ultimately great communication skills and empathy. The ability to put yourself in people's shoes allows you to be able to help them navigate the delays without unhealthy friction.

Who is Viv outside of the office, and what does she like to do for fun?

Viv giggling a bit: I always have such a problem answering this question because I'm a total introvert so I have very few things on my list of fun things to do.?

However, I enjoy being outside. So I make sure to go on a long hike once or twice a month and when I cannot, an hour on the treadmill a few days in a week will do.

Are you reading anything exciting right now?

Viv: I am an avid reader of mostly fiction. I’m currently reading ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ by Amor Towles.

What is your biggest hope for the next decade of 4G Capital? In what ways do you expect to grow?

Viv: There are more Micro and Small business owners in Kenya and Uganda who will greatly benefit from the products we have in the market. My hope for the next decade is to grow our market share and bring these businesses to formality. I’m also looking forward to partnering with others to develop sustainable products that not only financially empower our people but give them dignity and purpose in their work.

More about Viv:

Vivian Nasieku, MSc is an experienced Product Manager with a strong background in software testing, business analysis, and project management. With a diverse industry background in banking, insurance tech, FMCG, and leasing, Vivian excels at driving successful product development and delivery. Her expertise in software testing ensures top-quality products, while her skills in business analysis and project management enable her to translate customer needs into actionable requirements for?cross-functional teams. Using a customer-centric approach and a strong passion for delivering exceptional user experiences, Vivian consistently drives product success across diverse industries.