My Tech Story

Martha Akogwu

I currently work as a Product Manager.

• Why have you chosen this role?

This is because I get to build new products and no two days are ever the same, there’s always something new happening

• How long have you been working in your role as a Product Manager?

1 year and 8 months.

• How did you get your tech role?

I applied online for a Product Manager role.

• How does your typical workday in your life play out?

I have my daily meetings with the team; because we work on more than one product, we work with sprints a lot. So I could be checking out the latest build on a product, trying to create a product requirement document on another, and embarking on market research for the third.

• Every role has its own hurdles. What are yours and how do you troubleshoot them?

Working with a team remotely and having an efficient communication system hasn’t always been so easy. It takes a lot to ensure that everyone properly understands what to get done per time and delivers as required.

• What do you think would make you perform better at what you do? (You never can tell who’s reading this presently)

I think it would be more of a personal thing; I believe there’s nothing that cannot be solved in terms of possible issues or hurdles I can encounter; so for me, I would say connecting with the other product managers I can learn from and possibly ask questions as well as taking more classes to better improve on my skills as a PM.

• Trying not to sound like that pesky HR… Tell me, where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Still as a product manager; with more experience working in a global space.

• Techies are stereotyped as nonchalant; some even claim to work around the clock and have little time for socializing… How true🤷‍♂️?

I don’t think so; you always make time for what is important to you plus sometimes you just know when to take a break. (At least I know I do).

Watching movies or having video calls with my family and friends.

• What impact has More Techies had on you and your role?

More techies helped me learn more about Product Management and what it entails; I learned more than I had ever learned anywhere else, it was more practical and helped shed insights as to the expectations of a product manager and how to deliver.

It was how I got my first role.

• What golden secret can you tell someone trying to get into a similar role as yours to help them succeed?

Keep pushing, and keep applying for the roles, you’re going to get a lot of rejections but all you need is one yes.

While you apply, keep taking classes and taking volunteer roles to improve yourself, watch videos, practice, rework your resume and stay confident during your interviews; volunteer experience is also real-life experience; build your network during those classes … keep thriving.