Navigating the Future of Product Management: Lessons from Olubunmi Ayebiiwo

Olubunmi Ayebiiwo is a seasoned product management professional with a track record of building and scaling impactful products.

With a background in technology and business, she has spent years driving innovation and user-centric solutions. In this interview, she shares insights into her journey, challenges, and what it takes to excel in product management.

What inspired you to pursue a career in product management, and what keeps you passionate about it?

I was drawn to product management because it sits at the intersection of technology, business, and user experience. I love solving complex problems, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ultimately building products that make a difference in people’s lives.

One defining moment for me was working on a fintech product aimed at improving financial inclusion. Seeing how a well-designed solution could impact thousands of users reinforced my passion for this field.

The dynamic nature of product management keeps me engaged—there’s always something new to learn, whether it’s market trends, user behaviours, or emerging technologies. The challenge of constantly iterating and improving excites me, and the joy of seeing a product thrive in the market is incredibly fulfilling.

What challenges have you faced in your product management journey, and how did you overcome them?

One major challenge I faced was transitioning into product management without a formal background in it. Product management isn’t always a direct career path, so I had to take a proactive approach by acquiring the necessary skills through online courses, mentorship, and side projects. Another challenge was learning to balance business needs with user expectations.

Early on, I sometimes focused too much on what stakeholders wanted, rather than what the users needed. I overcame this by deeply integrating user research into my process and advocating for a data-driven approach to decision-making. Additionally, breaking into leadership roles in product management required developing strong communication and influence skills. Leading without formal authority is a core part of the job, and I had to learn how to bring teams along by clearly articulating the product vision and
aligning everyone toward a common goal.

What makes a great product manager, and how can aspiring professionals develop these qualities?

A great product manager blends strategic thinking, execution skills, and empathy. The best PMs are able to understand user needs deeply by engaging in continuous research and feedback loops, prioritize effectively based on impact, feasibility, and alignment with business goals, communicate and collaborate seamlessly with engineering, design, marketing, and stakeholders, leverage data to make informed decisions, balancing qualitative insights with quantitative metrics, and be adaptable to navigate uncertainty, as the product landscape is always changing.

For aspiring product managers, I recommend starting with foundational knowledge through courses on platforms like Coursera or Reforge. Building a strong network by engaging in product communities, attending meetups, and seeking mentorship is also invaluable. Most importantly, hands-on experience—whether through internships, side projects, or contributions to open-source products—will accelerate growth.

How do you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in product management?

Staying updated is essential because product management is constantly evolving. I actively follow industry leaders on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter, read product-focused blogs such as Lenny’s Newsletter and Mind the Product, and listen to product management podcasts. I also participate in webinars and conferences to gain insights from experienced product leaders.

Engaging in discussions within product management communities and forums helps me stay informed about best practices and emerging trends. Additionally, I make it a habit to continuously test and explore new products in various industries to understand how different teams approach problem-solving and user experience.

What are some key product management trends and tools that have significantly impacted your work?

“The shift towards AI-powered product development has been game-changing, allowing teams to leverage automation, personalisation, and predictive analytics. AI-driven insights help in making data-backed product decisions faster and more accurately. Another major trend is product-led growth (PLG), where companies focus on building products that drive adoption organically.

This approach emphasises strong onboarding experiences, self-service functionality, and viral loops. In terms of tools, roadmapping and collaboration tools like Productboard, Jira, and Miro have been crucial in streamlining workflows and aligning teams. For analytics, I rely on Mixpanel, Amplitude, and Google Analytics to track user behaviour and measure product performance.

How do you balance user needs with business objectives when making product decisions?

Balancing user needs with business goals is one of the core challenges of product management. I achieve this by clearly defining success metrics—ensuring that both user satisfaction and business growth are measured, leveraging user research—conducting interviews, surveys, and usability tests to gather insights directly from customers, aligning stakeholders—facilitating discussions with business leaders, engineers, and designers to ensure everyone understands trade-offs and priorities, and running experiments—A/B testing features before full rollouts to validate impact. Ultimately, great products achieve a win-win scenario: solving real user problems while driving business value.

What are your next big goals in your career?

My next big goal is to take on a leadership role where I can mentor and coach upcoming product managers. I’m passionate about helping others navigate the challenges of product management and would love to contribute to the next generation of PMs through mentorship and training programs. Additionally, I am keen on working on more global-scale products, especially in emerging markets, where technology can solve pressing social and economic challenges. I also plan to deepen my expertise in AI-driven product management and explore how it can be leveraged for more personalised and efficient user experiences.

What advice would you give to young Nigerians aspiring to build a career in product management?

For young Nigerians looking to break into product management, my key takeaways include starting with the fundamentals—learning about product development, user research, and business strategy, working on real projects—whether through internships, hackathons, or personal side projects, as hands-on experience is crucial, building a portfolio—showcasing work, even if it’s conceptual, to demonstrate problem-solving skills, networking and finding mentors—engaging with professionals on LinkedIn, attending product meetups, and seeking guidance from experienced PMs, and being persistent and adaptable—breaking into product management takes time, so staying curious, continuously learning, and embracing challenges as growth opportunities are key. The product management field is rewarding, and with dedication, young Nigerians can build impactful careers that shape the future of technology.