A product series with Adekunle Kadri

On today's episode, I spoke with a seasoned product manager with over a decade of years active product experience.

He's a growth-focused Product Manager with over 10 years of experience across telecoms, fintech, startups, and financial services. He's skilled in product growth, strategy, and analytics, I’ve led teams to develop customer-focused solutions that drove business success.

He also had the opportunity to set up multiple teams, processes, tools & operations from scratch(tech/high/ hybrid touch). His business portfolio has been from $1mn->$75mn+ ARR with a team size of 0 ->150+.

His strength lies in turning data-driven insights into impactful products, delivering real value and growth, particularly in Fintech and SaaS).

Currently, He's the Head of Product Analytics at Access Bank.

Let's meet him, shall we?

NB: In this newsletter, you will encounter acronyms like PM, PMing, and other terminologies that will be used interchangeably in this article.

Don’t just rely on intuition—validate your assumptions with data wherever possible.- Adekunle Kadri

• Can we meet you??

My name is Adekunle Kadri?. Nice to meet you Segun! Thank you for having me.

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• How long have you been a? PM and where do you work at the moment as a PM??

?For more than a decade, I have embraced my role as a product generalist, gaining extensive experience across technical domains, growth strategies, and analytics. I currently lead as Head of Product Analytics at Access Bank.

• ?On a scale of 1-5, how much do you love your job?? And why do you love it so much ? 5, I love the team structure and how collaboration??

I truly value the team structure and the seamless collaboration it encourages. This environment nurtures creativity, drives innovation, and promotes shared success, keeping me inspired and passionate about my work.

• So people say there’s money in Tech is it true? Does that translate to Product management??

People often say there’s money in tech, and while that may be true, I believe there’s potential for financial success in many fields. For me, the primary motivation lies in making a meaningful impact. The financial rewards naturally follow when you focus on creating value and driving results.

• ?What is one thing you don’t like about being a PM?

One aspect of being a Product Manager that can be challenging is managing diverse stakeholder expectations while keeping the product vision on track. It requires careful prioritization and communication, but I see it as an opportunity to drive alignment and deliver meaningful outcomes

• ?Will you pick being a PM to other professions??

I am a generalist capable of thriving in various PM areas, but my current focus is on product & customer analytics. I truly enjoy this role, especially working in one of the best organizations.

• As a PM? how do you manage time?

Effective time management is essential. I prioritize tasks based on their impact and urgency.?

• ?What can someone who wants to pivot into PMing do with no experience?

They can network and find a mentor who can guide them or take courses from places like Product School, Treford, or Product Dive to kickstart the foundation and they can then look for internship opportunities to get hands-on experience.?

• What’s your advice for new PMs starting?

Use Data to Drive Decisions: Be data-driven when making product decisions. Look at metrics, user behavior, and feedback to guide your decisions. Don’t just rely on intuition—validate your assumptions with data wherever possible.

Set Clear Success Metrics: Define what success looks like for each feature or initiative. Use measurable KPIs (e.g., user engagement, revenue growth, churn reduction) to track progress and outcomes.

• ?What do you do outside of work? Hobbies or activities?

Outside of work, I’m passionate about mentoring aspiring professionals, particularly in tech and data, helping them navigate their careers and grow. I also enjoy speaking at events, where I share insights on technology, data, and career development to inspire and empower others. Playing Football is another key activity that keeps me active.?

I am so grateful for your time Adekunle Kadri it means a lot to me and my audience. I hope someone reading this will be prepared for what is to come. Thank you!

So if you are pivoting to tech and want to make a difference then join our community. If you are new to product management and looking to accelerate your career in tech? Join our growing community on Telegram, "All Things Product" (https://lnkd.in/eQjtJjEJ), to connect with experienced professionals, gain valuable insights, and access top-notch resources!

Stay tuned till next time as we feature more existing personalities who are building amazing products and doing their best work changing lives one product at a time.