In this episode of The Unspoken Podcast: The PM Series, I had an interesting conversation with Oluwapelumi Kehinde, and his story truly stands out. It’s unique because of his perspective and growth journey, yet familiar because, like many of us, he took different career paths before finding his place in product management.

Pelumi has explored data analytics, product design, operations, and software engineering before falling in love with product management. He shared how he got into the field, the value of joining communities, and how he landed his first gig and PM role through connections made in the Product Manager Africa community. He also spoke about collaborating with developers, especially for non-technical PMs, and the importance of understanding systems and frameworks rather than learning to code.

One of my favorite takeaways from Pelumi was this quote:

“You’re not in charge — you’re here to help build out the founder’s vision and ensure the product is delivered. You can brainstorm, make suggestions, and help the team make the right decisions.”

He also shared practical tips on transitioning into product management, prioritizing product features, and why collaboration and communication are key to working effectively with engineers and designers.

Tune in to this 38-minute episode to learn how to grow, transition, and succeed in your product management journey.