A product series with Chinwe Odukwe

On today's episode, I spoke with a seasoned product manager with over 8years of experience mostly in the Health-tech space where she started as a Prroject Manager and then transitioned to being a Product Manager. She has worked with different companies like 亚马逊 UK, Signal Alliance Consulting Internet Expert Ltd , Helium Health .

She's currently a Senior Product Manager Reliance Health

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.

Understand that there are a lot of things you would not know at the start, so be curious, talk to other PMs, you can find a coach or a mentor, follow individuals that you know are doing great and always ask questions - Chinwe Odukwe

• Can we meet you??

???????My name is Chinwe Odukwe?

• How long have you been a? PM and where do you work now as a PM??

I have been working as a Product Manager for about 8 years, originally started out as a Technical Project Manager in the health tech space and then fully transitioned to Product and now work as a senior product manager at Reliance Health .?

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

I would say a 5! I love doing what I do and at the core of it for me is being able to wake up every day and solve problems and see the impact that it has on the users and the company. I truly fell in love with it when I noticed and witnessed firsthand the impact it had on the users, it makes all the hard work worth it.?

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

Yes, there is money in tech. The financial opportunities and earning capability are wide, largely because of the level of value tech provides. Making money in tech would differ based on various factors such as the type and size of the company, industry segment, geographical location, and skill level and experience. Generally, the more value you create, the more your earning potential.?

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

Being a PM and truly making an impact takes a whole lot of work, from working with design, collaborating with engineering, series of meetings with stakeholders (internal and external), managing changing priorities, alignment with marketing in ensuring there is effective communication and then finding that focus time for yourself to do your work could be draining and could lead to burn out.?

Working 40 hours a week is truly a myth, as almost every PM I know easily without a doubt crosses that mark to be truly successful.?

“Don’t like” wouldn’t be the word I would use, maybe “challenging”! Additionally, I would say that the key would be to understand how to manage your time and get things done faster.?

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

This is a good question! Being a PM is interesting, it allows me to make an impact in the best way I know how provides good compensation and gives me the flexibility that I need. More importantly, I believe that it is in line with where God wants me to be unless he happens to lead me in a different direction.?

• As a PM? how do you manage time?

I like this question because it is key!?

I plan my day and week, and in planning, I have time to focus on specific things and time for meetings. In doing this, I keep a to-do list and a personal tracker for everything that should be top of mind for me and the things that I want to do later.

I focus on the urgent and important things first, always get that out of the way, and at the end of the day, I do a review to understand where my time went, and where I can improve and adjust accordingly.?

Finally, one good thing to note is as you plan, your plan might change based on the situations that may arise, so adapt quickly, be flexible, and make adjustments.?

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

The first thing I would say is to know deep down within yourself that being a PM is what you want to do, then start with knowledge, don’t try to learn and know everything at once, just start with basics and work your way up. You can take foundational courses, and read articles that help with foundational knowledge.?

Take up side projects, and look for internship programs (there could be paid internships, but do not be afraid to work for free, you get paid in knowledge and experience). In addition, leverage connections, and PM communities and try APM programs.

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

Understand that there are a lot of things you would not know at the start, so be curious, talk to other PMs, you can find a coach or a mentor, follow individuals that you know are doing great and always ask questions (even those questions that you think are stupid, as you know there are no stupid questions) and remember anything you do not know can be learned!?

Do not be afraid to fail and make mistakes (try not to do this all the time though), but most importantly learn from them, learn from other PMs' mistakes and successes, and learn to learn quickly.?

Additionally, do your research, understand how to measure impact, listen to stakeholders (what they say and do not say), and constantly evaluate yourself.?

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

I enjoy watching movies, spending time with family and friends, dancing (I haven’t done a lot of this lately publicly), and going to church.??

I am so grateful for your time Chinwe Odukwe? 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.