‘How we are using Sanwo value chain to enhance product management’

Tunmike Adeyemo is a lawyer and a product manager at Sanwo, a fintech startup. In this interview with WALE OLAPADE, she speaks on how her career trajectory and knowledge blend with tech is creating a compelling narrative of versatility and innovation, as well as how her product management team is making waves with its groundbreaking Sanwo Express, Sanwo Classic, and Sanwo Travels.

Transitioning from law to Tech is quite a leap, what motivated you?

Well, technology is all around us and its impact in all areas of our lives has been immense, making it incredibly important to getting things done to meet the real time needs. It simplifies daily tasks such as shopping and advances complex fields like developing sophisticated defence systems. As such, this is the future of our civilisation and growth. This realisation became the tipping point in my life, sparking my interest in transitioning from my legal career and pursuing one in the management of technology development.

How do you integrate your legal experience into your current tech role?

There are significant similarities and transferrable skills earned from my legal expertise which I have incorporated in my current role. Legal practitioners often encounter complex legal challenges and my legal background has been very beneficial to my approach to product management. Conducting due diligence is one aspect of legal practice that has helped me in my career as a product manager. Also, as a legal practitioner, we are always involved in risk assessment, compliance, negotiating, problem-solving, critical thinking and communicating with a wide range of stakeholders. All these and more from my legal background have assisted me as a product manager.

What aspect of technology do you specialise in?

I am currently a product manager in a fintech startup called Sanwo. As a product manager, I identify customer needs and business objectives that a product or feature should address, I highlight what a product success should look like. I do not code but I work with the engineering team, designers and marketers to turn the product’s vision into a reality.

What is Sanwo?

Absolutely, Sanwo is a fintech company that creates a trust value system between buyers and sellers. It offers an easy-to-use escrow service that allows you to gain your customers’ trust and transact online safety. We currently have three products in the market, Sanwo Classic, which helps with business management tools, Sanwo Express, which helps to secure your money when buying online without signing up and Sanwo Travels that allows travel agents to sign up and explore curated travel packages backed by Sanwo’s escrow services.

What challenges did you face while developing these products?

Well, each product had its unique set of challenges. For Sanwo Express, the challenge was to simplify the transaction process without compromising security. With Sanwo Classic, we had to ensure that our platform could handle complex transactions with ease and for Sanwo Travels, integrating with various travel service providers to create a seamless experience was key.

How has the market responded to Sanwo’s products?

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve seen a significant uptick in users who appreciate the simplicity and security our products offer. Its gratifying to see our solutions were embraced by the market.

Looking ahead, what is the next for Sanwo?

We ‘re constantly exploring new ways to enhance our products and expand our reach.

Fintech is booming in Nigeria despite various challenges, what role do you think fintech is playing in developing Nigeria economy?

Fintech is a game-changer for developing economies. In Nigeria, it’s bridging the gap between the banked and unbanked populations. With over 200 fintech standalone companies, the sector is vibrant and growing, offering solutions that traditional banks have failed to provide.

Any advice for entrepreneurs who are yet to venture into tech viz-a-viz product management?

Embrace the change. The skills you’ve developed in law are invaluable in the tech space. Stay curious, be willing to learn, and don’t be afraid to take that first step into a new domain.

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