Celebrating Innovation: Oluwafunke Akingboye Named Among Top Recipients of Nigeria Youth Technology Awards in Tech Impact Awards 2021

Celebrating Innovation: Oluwafunke Akingboye Named Among Top Recipients of Nigeria Youth Technology Awards in Tech Impact Awards 2021

Oluwafunke Akingboye is a dynamic and passionate Product Manager with five years of experience in driving product innovation and delivering human-centered solutions. She is currently the Lead Product Manager at Regaleon, a Lagos-based technology and creative powerhouse revolutionizing how digital services are built and experienced in Africa. At Regaleon, Oluwafunke plays a central role in aligning digital product strategy with user needs, leading cross-functional teams, and crafting delightful user experiences across web, mobile, and enterprise platforms.What inspired you to pursue a career in Product Management, and what keeps you passionate about it?I’ve always been fascinated by how people interact with digital products. Initially, it started with analyzing mobile apps—figuring out what made some intuitive while others felt clunky. That curiosity evolved into a mission: to create experiences that solve real-world problems. As a Product Manager, I find immense joy in the impact we create. At Regaleon, we build products that help businesses operate more effectively while leaving a human touch—something we call “putting a smile” on the user’s face.What challenges have you faced as a Gen Z building your Product career in Africa, and how did you overcome them?One major challenge was access to mentorship and structured learning opportunities early in my career. I turned to online resources, communities, and side projects to gain experience. It also wasn’t easy to be taken seriously in executive conversations, but I learned how to lead with value, present data, and always let the product speak for itself. With time and consistent delivery, I earned the trust of stakeholders.What makes a great Product Manager, and what advice do you have for aspiring young professionals?A great Product Manager is empathetic, data-informed, and outcome-driven. Empathy lets you connect with your users, data helps you validate decisions, and a focus on outcomes keeps you aligned with business value. My advice? Start small—build things, break them, learn fast. Join communities, seek feedback, and never stop being curious. Your soft skills matter just as much as your technical abilities.At Regaleon, you work in a very dynamic and multi-disciplinary environment. How do you align product strategies with such diverse verticals?Regaleon is truly unique. Our entrepreneurial culture means we’re constantly innovating across IT, engineering, and digital media. It requires staying agile and deeply listening—to users, clients, and the market. I begin every product with discovery sessions that cut across departments and industries. The goal is always the same: identify pain points and solve them in a way that feels intuitive and impactful. Whether we’re designing an app interface or launching a video ad tech product, we ensure the solution creates a moment of delight—a smile.What tools or trends have significantly influenced your product practice?Tools like Jira, Figma, and Notion have become staples—they make collaboration seamless. I also stay tuned to trends like no-code/low-code platforms, AI-assisted product development, and accessibility-first design. These have enabled me to deliver faster and more inclusive solutions, particularly useful in an emerging market context.How do you balance creativity and functionality in your role?Balancing both starts with understanding the user’s core need. At Regaleon, we never create for the sake of aesthetics alone. My approach is “function-first, delight-second.” Once the backbone is solid, I work with our designers to inject beauty into usability. For example, in one recent logistics solution, we simplified the UI while retaining backend power—resulting in 40% faster onboarding for SMEs.Collaboration is crucial in product development. How do you work with engineers, marketers, and designers?Collaboration is where the magic happens. I make it a point to involve all stakeholders early. Engineers help validate technical feasibility, designers bring in empathy and creativity, while marketers ensure messaging is aligned. At Regaleon, we function more like a startup incubator—agile, quick to pivot, and driven by feedback loops. I facilitate cross-functional meetings, retrospectives, and design sprints that promote transparency and collective ownership.What’s your next goal as a Product Manager?My next goal is to lead Regaleon’s expansion into AI-driven digital products. I’m also passionate about mentoring the next generation of product leaders in Africa. There’s so much raw talent on the continent, and I want to help create the platforms and resources that empower them to thrive.What’s your vision for the future of product leadership in Africa?I envision Africa not just as a consumer of tech but as a creator of world-class digital solutions. The challenges we face here are unique, and solving them requires localized thinking and bold innovation. I see product leadership evolving into a strategic function, with PMs driving change not just in startups, but in government, education, and infrastructure too.Lastly, any advice for young Nigerians looking to get into Product Management?Learn by doing. Start with side projects, internships, or volunteering. Study products you love—reverse-engineer them. Build your communication and stakeholder management skills. And most importantly, believe that your ideas matter. Africa needs builders, and the time to start is now.

Oluwafunke Akingboye