A product series with Chikaosoro Ugwu

On this week's episode, I spoke with a seasoned product manager with over 2 years of product management experieence.

She comes with a background in accounting and 10 years of experience in operations management.Through her product management and operational best practices.

She has:- Expanded a startup business into 3 global markets, increasing reach by 40%- Created tech-enabled products with diverse teams, generating over 25% revenue growth- Guided startups to achieve more than a 30% customer retention rate and a 20% increase in sustainable profits.

She is passionate about innovation, collaborates effectively on challenging problems, and thrives in using technology to improve how businesses and people work, interact, and live.

Let's meet her, shall we?

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

The truth is, the more problems you solve, the more money you will make. - Chikaosoro Ugwu

• Can we meet you?? Please state your name

My name is Chikaosoro Ugwu.?

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

I have been a product manager for two years and currently, I work as a Product Marketing Manager at the People Centric Organizations (The PCO Group), a non-profit that transforms organizations into engaged teams and fulfilled individuals through the PCO Sherpas.

• ?On a scale of 1-5, how much do you love your job?? And why do you love it so much ?

I would give my job a 5 because I love the constant variety and the opportunity to think creatively while solving problems for people.?

Also, It's fulfilling to see how my ideas are contributing to the success of the People-Centric Organizations.

• So people say there’s money in Tech is it true? Does that translate to Product management?It’s true - there’s money in Tech. Honestly, Tech, including Product Management, offers rewarding careers with attractive compensation but you (the product manager) must focus on developing in-demand skills, staying adaptable, and continuously learning new ways to solve problems for people so that you can make money while at it.

The truth is, the more problems you solve, the more money you will make.

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

One thing I find challenging (but I'm adapting) as a PM is the number of meetings that happen in this field.?

I know meetings are good for collaboration, decision-making and alignment but too much of meetings can drain productivity and energy.

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

At the moment, I will pick being a PM to other professions because no two days are the same in product management and that's one of the things I love about this field.

• As a PM? how do you manage time?

Okay, I am not just a PM, I am a married woman and a mom of two children.

Apart from using productivity tools (like Calendar, To-do list ,and Trello), here are some of the ways I manage my time to avoid missing anything:

1. I use a notepad to prioritize my tasks according to their importance and urgency to avoid any mistakes.
2. I usually schedule fixed, uninterrupted blocks for tasks (like work, family time, personal time) to encourage work-life balance.
3. Batching similar tasks helps me to deal with tasks that are related at once without going back and forth.
4. I delegate tasks to the right people (at work and home) so that I can have more time to focus on tasks that need more of my attention.
5. I say no to non-essential commitments to avoid wasting my time and resources and it's been helpful too.

In all of this, I am always flexible and quick to adapt to changes (like kids' unexpected needs and work emergencies), communicate with my team (and family) about my schedules, and make reviews (and adjustments) regularly.

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

So, I transitioned into product management with 10 years of experience in operations management, and here are some ways to get started:

1. Ask yourself why you want to pivot, just like I did; this will help you to discover your motivation and current skills that will be needed in the product field.
2. Find a tech academy or a product school where you can learn the theories of product management and do not forget to learn from other resources on your own to get diverse perspectives.
3. Join a community of product managers to network, interact, and learn from others. This will help you a lot because most PMs in these communities are willing to help you grow.
4. Volunteer for anyone or a company working on a product to get hands-on experience and do not forget to learn from your mistakes. Internships and apprenticeships are good too whether paid or unpaid.

Finally, it is important that you document your journey from day one, this will help people to know what you are doing, and getting help becomes a bit easier when you are stuck.

• What’s your advice for new PMs starting out?

Nothing good comes easily and any PM starting must be ready to work if you want to succeed.

You must be in love with the problems you are trying to solve, not the title PRODUCT MANAGER.

Do not be afraid to make mistakes or fail because you will learn more from failures than successes.

When you are stuck, ask for help, and do not be discouraged if you get a no. It simply means you need to check somewhere else to get your yes. So, keep going till you get help.

Normalize collaborating with others and do not see anyone as your competitor. When you see someone doing the things you hope to do in the future, get close to them, ask questions, and learn from their expertise.

Finally, do not be hard on yourself. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step and you need to pay attention to your processes and be hopeful that results will come along the way.

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

When I'm not PMing, you can catch me teaching people, especially moms, how to use their skills to solve problems for clients using LinkedIn, Upwork ,and other platforms.

Also, I love learning new things from friends and online resources.

I am so grateful for your time Chikaosoro Ugwu it means a lot to me and my audience. 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, join our community. Are you 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 building amazing products and doing their best work changing lives one product at a time.