MY SIWES JOURNEY MONTH 5🎉🎄

Finally, it’s the most wonderful time of the year – December, my favorite month! It’s not only my birth month but also the time we celebrate Christmas. 🎄🎉 Due to early holiday closures, this month’s article will be shorter than usual.

Before we dive in, if you haven't read my previous articles, you can catch up here: Month 1, 2, 3, 4. So, grab a Christmas cookie and a milkshake as I take you through my SIWES journey in Month 5 as a product manager intern at Renaissance Innovation Labs.

In this article, I won’t detail my tasks but focus on what I’ve learned during my 5-month journey as a product manager intern. Deciding to venture into product management as a computer science student, was no small feat. Computer science students can relate to the expectations of web development or “coding”.

Despite the challenges, the experience has been rewarding. I've grasped the stages of product development, understanding their nuances, and actively practicing them. Effective planning has emerged as a crucial lesson – without it, you're likely to encounter blockers and miss deadlines. Market research before product development has become second nature. Evaluating marketability ensures your idea aligns with user needs and avoids the disappointment of an underperforming product.

It’s not just about building products; it’s about creating solutions to real-world problems, attracting genuine users, and cultivating a customer base.

In the realm of planning, I've mastered the art of crafting a PRD (product requirements documentation) and constructing a product roadmap to outline the user journey.

Working with developers has proven to be a nuanced skill, as managing humans is not as straightforward as it may seem. As a PM, establishing a smooth collaboration with developers is crucial to clearing blockers and meeting deadlines seamlessly.

Crisis management, particularly in the face of unresponsive team members, poses a significant challenge for product managers, especially in a remote work setting. Addressing this issue effectively is paramount. I encountered a similar challenge in a recent project, where communication breakdowns led to delays. Learning from the experience, I adjusted my approach following advice from my senior PM, ultimately expediting the process. It’s a valuable lesson in timely and effective decision-making.

Dear senior PMs, how do you navigate a scenario when your developer or UI/UX designer is unresponsive or missing deadlines, especially when there’s a looming product development deadline? Feel free to share your insights in the comment section here on Medium.

Reflecting on my 5-month journey, I’ve cherished every moment. Learning, making mistakes, and learning from those mistakes are all integral parts of the training process. It’s been a journey filled with gratitude, acknowledging the guidance provided by God and the individuals around me. To my dedicated readers, your support has made this roller coaster ride worthwhile. With just one more month to go🎉😁, I believe we can finish strong. Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey! 😊

Happy birthday to me — 28th December 🎉

Merry Christmas 🎄 to you all and a wonderful Happy New Year 🎉See you in 2024!❤️