My Tech Transition: How Hassanat Abubakar went from Biochemistry to Product Management

Hassanat Abubakar, a Product Manager at Prunedge, tells us how she successfully transitioned from a biochemistry career to Product Management.

My Tech Transition is a monthly ConTech series that shines a spotlight on Africans who have successfully transitioned into tech.

Written by David Onugha

Can you share what your role typically covers on a daily basis?

Primarily, I manage the team, oversee project deliverables, and coordinate tasks. Additionally, I conduct product research to inform our strategy. A significant part of my day is dedicated to ensuring team members meet their targets and that the product development process runs smoothly from inception to completion.

How did you get into product management?

My journey as a product manager started in 2021 after graduating from the university. I studied biochemistry at the university and during my NYSC year, my place of primary assignment was at a hospital. I knew that it would be difficult to get an entry level role in biochemistry so a friend advised me to pick up a skill to learn. I did my research and found that I was quite interested in project management in the healthcare space. I have always been passionate about healthcare so most of my case studies while I was on my learning path were around hospitals. By the time I completed my NYSC, I decided to narrow my interest to product management. 

Fun fact, even though I transitioned to product management, I have worked on healthtech products that are currently solving problems in the healthcare space. 

Can you share some of these products? 

I was part of the team that built One Wellness, a health management solution that is currently being used by some organizations. I also worked on a mental health product called Consuelo where people can get access to mental health tips. I still see myself building more products in the healthcare space. 

What challenges did you face while transitioning to the tech industry and how were you able to solve them?

There was a lot of resource overload. When I was ransitioning into the product management space, I realized that if one wasn’t careful, they’d consume a lot of learning resources and that would be overwhelming. 

I also faced imposter syndrome but I just tried to keep pushing. 

One of the things that helped me navigate my transition into tech was leveraging on my strengths like leadership, communication, project planning and execution. I held some leadership positions that required me to use these skills while I was in the university so I already knew that these were my strengths. 

I was able to manage these issues by putting myself out there. I also joined tech communities and had a community of friends that were rooting for me. They were people I could talk to because sometimes, a career transition can be overwhelming and you just need people to encourage you. 

What would say is the most important skill every product manager should have?

As a product manager, you need to have really good problem solving skills because you're building solutions that are solving people's issues. So being able to analyze problems critically, and then build a solution is a very important skill. 

Which core skill did you focus on developing during your tech transition, and how did you master it?

I had to build my technical knowledge. I didn’t really take courses for this but I took notes during meetings and asked my developers questions. Basically, active learning on the job really helped me. I supported this with some online articles that I read. 

Did your biochemistry background help you in your transition to product management?

I found my experience as a student leader quite helpful. When I was in uni, I was the course representative for my department; we were over 100 students and this experience exposed me to leadership skills. I was also the Academic Director for my department so I learned to plan and execute initiatives within my department. This eventually helped me when I was transitioning to product management as I was able to leverage on some of these soft skills that I already had.

What is the top advice you give to anyone looking to successfully transition into a product management career?

The first thing is to know why you’re transitioning. A lot of people get interested in product management because they’ve been told that the profession is a lucrative one and is the easiest way to get into tech. There has to be a core reason for your tech transition.  When you know why you’re transitioning, you’ll know what is driving your actions and where you need to get to at every point. 

You should also leverage your strengths and transferable skills, be part of a supportive community and build in public. 

What’s a job search hack that has always worked for you in your career?

Build in public and have a rich network. When you build in public, people can testify to what you’re doing. Have people within your circle who give you value and who you can add value to.