We’re continuing our exploration of the amazing women shaping the tech landscape with another installment of our “Women in Tech” series. Today, we’re shifting gears a little and heading into the exciting world of product management. We spoke to a highly acclaimed product leader who’s known for her innovative approach and ability to bring groundbreaking ideas to life. Get ready for an inspiring conversation about navigating the tech industry as a woman and the power of exceptional product management skills.
We’ll be diving deep into her career journey, exploring the challenges and triumphs of being a woman in product management, and gaining valuable insights from her experience.
Can we get to know you?
My name is Princess Akari, I am an experienced Product Manager with over 7 years of cumulative experience in Strategy, Operations, Project Management, and Product Management. I specialize in leading product teams to develop user-centric products that drive business growth. Over the last 4 years, I’ve successfully led cross-functional teams to build, launch, and scale digital products across diverse industry sectors.
In addition to my work as a Product Manager, I am also the Founder and Community Lead of the PeopleInProduct (PIP) community, a thriving product management community. At PIP, we provide product managers with access to peer support, learning resources, job opportunities, and mentorships. Through our community, we’ve been able to drive impact and tech career growth to over 5,000 product people.
Aside from all the work I do, I love to travel and experience new places, cultures, and ancient history.
How did your journey in tech begin?
Sometime in September 2019, I was introduced to the idea of being a Product Manager. While I strongly considered making the switch then, it didn’t quite feel like the right time. Fast forward to March 2020, just before the pandemic hit hard, I quit my job as a Corporate Strategy Executive to become a Product Manager. I made the decision to be a Product Manager because it gives you the opportunity to be directly involved in rolling out meaningful products.
Did you have any role models or mentors who influenced your career
path?
I created a solid support system of peers and friends that influenced my career path. I didn’t have a mentor until 3 years after my transition.
If I have to pick one role model it would be Khadijah Abu of Paystack.
Can you tell me a bit about your educational background and any
relevant certifications you’ve obtained so far?
I studied civil engineering as my undergraduate course and I have an MBA for my postgraduate.
I have loads of certifications, you can check them out on my LinkedIn.
You’re the founder and community lead of people in product, how did
the concept come about?
Firstly, People in Product was a solution to a personal problem I had. I was part of several product management communities, but as a young product manager, I needed support. Despite my successful transition, I needed a group of like-minded people to help me on my journey. I joined these communities hoping they would provide the support I needed.
However, I found that the energy in these communities were low, and questions often went unanswered. This was disheartening, especially when the questions were important and potentially related to work issues. I felt unsure about answering these questions myself due to my lack of experience.
One day, I needed help and posted a question in several communities, including a global one with over 100k members. My post was quickly buried under numerous others, and I received no responses. I tried local communities with the same result.
At the time, I didn’t know any senior figures I could approach. I had access to a few people, but they weren’t product managers or designers. One product manager did give me her time, but I didn’t want to overuse my access to her.
I was frustrated and I deleted my questions from the communities and started People in Product. I wanted to create a community where members could be confident they would receive support. I knew it wouldn’t serve everyone, but I didn’t want anyone to feel unsupported.
The first nine members of People in Product and I had our first check-in call, where we all shared the individual problems that we were facing with product communities and support. We were all junior PMs, and we agreed to support each other in this challenging space. From those nine, we’ve grown to over 5000 members.
Can you walk us through a typical day or week in your role as product
manager?
A day in the life of a Product Manager can vary depending on the company, industry, and specific project or product you are working on. However, here’s a general overview of what a typical day might look like:
- Morning routine and planning: The day often starts with reviewing emails, messages, and any updates from the team. This might include checking in on ongoing projects, responding to customer feedback, and prioritizing tasks for the day.
- Meetings and collaborations: Product Managers spend a portion of their day in meetings, collaborating with cross-functional teams such as engineering, design, marketing, and sales. This could include daily stand-ups, sprint planning sessions, brainstorming meetings, or stakeholder discussions.
- The stage of the project: Every day or week is different, and it depends on the phase of the product development cycle. It varies from discovery/research, documentation, design review, engineering support, QA testing, etc.
What are some of the emerging trends you see shaping the future of
product management?
Recently, it has been AI-driven trends.
There is a report from Product School to show the future of product management and I agree with them on the top 3 trends. Read the full report here
The journey from product manager to founder is quite narrow, do you
see yourself transitioning into being a founder in the future? If yes,
in what area in tech?
Aside from being the founder of the PIP community, I am also the co-founder of Sandbox; a talent-matching tech startup that connects companies with top-tier and vetted tech talent.
People in product is still growing as a community, what are some of
the plans you have for the community this year?
Right now, we have wide group mentorship sessions, but we want a proper, structured mentorship. I remember applying for a program with a rigorous process – it filtered out people who weren’t serious. We want something similar – pairing serious mentees with dedicated mentors.
We laid the groundwork while working on the early Sandbox, and are looking to bring even more resources and experience.
Another future focus is partnerships – meaningful ones with real benefits and networking opportunities for our members. We already have strong partnerships, but we want to expand. For example, last year, we had a PM who helped 20 PMs get access to Lenny’s premium subscription (Articles, podcasts, private product community) – that was impactful! It shows the potential for larger, more immediate benefits from strong partnerships.
We’re also thinking bigger picture – advocating for Product Managers, pushing for better pay, and improving how they’re treated in the workplace. How we achieve this can come from the community itself!
Lastly, we want more global events. We did some last year, but we want to scale – think chill, ‘warm space’ vibes, but impactful ones, both inside and outside Nigeria.
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of being a product
manager?
I make a difference by solving real problems.
I get to work closely with diverse teams.
I have the opportunity to create products that improve user experiences.
Career growth: Being a PM offers a diverse skill set that can open doors to various career opportunities within tech companies and beyond. The skills you acquire as a PM are transferable and valuable in many industries.
You are a recipient of the UK global talent program, how does it feel
to be recognized as a leader in tech?
It feels amazing and humbling to be recognized as a UK Global Talent. It’s like a big pat on the back, validating all my efforts so far. This acknowledgment motivates and inspires me to keep pushing boundaries, making meaningful contributions to the field, and helping others along the way.
What advice would you give to aspiring product managers who are just
starting out in their careers?
- Embrace your uniqueness, speak up confidently, and seek out peers and mentors who support your growth and development.
- Trust your instincts, take risks, and don’t be afraid to fail. Every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow stronger.
- Continuously learn and stay curious, as the tech industry is constantly evolving, being adaptable is key to success.
- Prioritize your well-being and maintain a healthy work-life balance, as burnout is a real concern as a PM in the tech industry, especially when working with small-scale startups.
- Believe in yourself and your abilities, even when faced with doubt or adversity. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Finally, what resources (books, podcasts, networks, etc.) would you
recommend to aspiring product managers?
PIP Learning Resource Bank – Learning Resources
It’s a pleasure talking to you Princess.
Thank you for having me.
