From code to impact: How I transitioned to product management

How I stopped being “just a coder” and started thinking like a product engineer For a long time, I believed being a good developer meant writing clean code, fixing bugs quickly, and shipping features on time. That was all I focused on. But after working on a few projects, something felt off. The code worked perfectly, yet the product didn’t really succeed. Users dropped off, feedback wasn’t great, and I couldn’t figure out why. Eventually, I realized the issue wasn’t my code. It was my perspective. I was building things without understanding why they mattered. So I started asking questions. Why are we building this? Who is it for? What problem are we solving? That small shift changed everything. My work suddenly had direction. I began thinking about how users actually interacted with what I built and how every technical decision could improve their experience. I started working more closely with designers and product managers, trying to understand not just how to build something, but why it should exist in the first place. Now, I still love writing code, but I see it differently. Code isn’t the end goal anymore. It’s a way to bring ideas to life and make something truly useful. That’s when I stopped being just a coder and started thinking like a product engineer. What about you... when did you realize coding was about more than just code? #FullStackDeveloper #SoftwareEngineering #ProductMindset #CodingJourney #DeveloperGrowth #TechLeadership #BuildInPublic #CareerGrowth #Programming #TechCommunity

Hello product lovers 💃💃💃 STORY POST — “Last Week Was Hard… But It Finally Started Making Sense.” Last week at Tech4Dev pushed me far outside my comfort zone. I won’t lie — stepping into the technical side of product management was confusing, overwhelming, and honestly… a little intimidating at first. But that’s exactly where the growth happened. 🔹 Programming The first time I looked at functions, conditionals, and logic flow, my brain said, “What is this??” But as I kept going, I began to see the beauty in how logic turns into real user actions. Now I understand why PMs must think in terms of flows, states, and edge cases — not just features. Understanding different programming language help PM communication better with engineers , also help make more technical inform decisions. Databases Databases were another stretch. Tables, relationships, foreign keys — it felt like trying to organize a world I couldn’t see. But once it clicked, I realized how essential a solid data schema is to every product. A product can look perfect on the surface, but without clean data… everything breaks. 🔹 APIs APIs confused me the most at first. Endpoints, status codes, JSON responses — it felt like decoding a new language. But then I saw how one API call can power login, payment, notifications… That’s when it hit me: APIs are the communication layer that holds the whole experience together. And here’s the biggest insight of the week: Technical understanding gives PMs clarity. Clarity gives confidence. And confidence changes how you build products. The confusion, the struggle, the “wait, what?” moments — they were all part of becoming a better thinker, collaborator, and decision-maker. If you’re learning something new and it feels hard… stay with it. One day it clicks — and it’s worth it. 🌱✨ #Tech4Dev #ProductManagement #TechnicalPM #API #Databases #Programming #GrowthMindset #LearningInPublic #Storytelling

Some days, it feels like I’m juggling two completely different worlds. One project demands deep problem-solving, performance tuning, and endless debugging sessions. The other is all about creativity, design precision, and delivering smooth user experiences. Different domains. Different challenges. Yet both running on tight deadlines, client expectations, and that one universal rule, no bugs in production. Balancing them isn’t about multitasking, it’s about mindset shifting. Knowing when to switch from a technical architect’s brain to a product thinker’s heart. Because when you’re handling multiple projects, it’s not just about coding smart, it’s about managing your focus smartly. #AppDevelopment #SoftwareEngineering #DeveloperLife #ProjectManagement #TechJourney #CodingLife #Flutter #TechDaily

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. The silence wasn't for lack of things to say but because I’ve been on a steep learning curve outside my comfort zone: the world of #sales and #marketing. To my colleagues in these departments, I offer a long-overdue apology. I'll admit, I used to quietly snigger, believing that the "real work" happened in the codebase. I was wrong. This experience has fundamentally reshaped my view of our work. It's a lesson I want to share with my fellow engineers and programmers as we approach the New Year: Your code is not the masterpiece; the value it creates is. We don't write code for its own sake. We write it as a means to an end. The true measure of our work isn't elegance or cleverness, but the task it accomplishes. How does it help one person perform better? How does it make a client's day easier? We may not be able to solve world hunger, but we can absolutely write the line of code that uplifts one person to be better today. That is the impact we should be chasing. What's a lesson that has reshaped your perspective recently? Yele Okeremi, DBA Michael Peters Ade Atobatele #EngineeringLeadership #SoftwareDevelopment #TechLeadership #HumilityInTech #ProductMindset #CodeForValue

In my 3 years of building products for clients, I’ve noticed two kinds of developers: 🔥 Type 1: “Deploy on Friday. Break it? I’ll fix it over the weekend.” 🧠 Type 2: “If it’s not tested, it’s not shipping.” Different mindsets. Same Deploy button.😜 But here’s what building real products taught me: ✨ The best code isn’t the fastest — it’s the code that lets your clients sleep peacefully… and lets you sleep too. #FounderMindset #ProductBuilder #FullStackDeveloper #TechCommunity #EngineeringCulture #techFlute #mvp #expert

We’re currently exploring the Vibe Coding module in our Product Management class, and it’s been such an eye-opening experience so far. This week, we’re learning how to inspect and test APIs a vital skill that helps Product Managers understand how product features connect on the backend. By knowing how to identify and troubleshoot issues early, we can reduce dependency on developers and ensure smoother communication across teams. In the coming days, we’ll be diving deeper into Postman for API documentation and testing, Lovable for no-code prototyping and product workflow visualization, and Bolt for collaborative product development and release management. These tools are helping us strengthen the bridge between product and engineering, enabling faster debugging, clearer collaboration, and more efficient product delivery. Grateful to be gaining these practical, hands-on skills through the Tech4Dev Internet Society Foundation program every lesson brings me closer to becoming a well-rounded Product Manager. #ProductManagement #Tech4Dev #DigitalSkills #ProductDesign #Innovation

Ever noticed how the best Tech Leads quietly become Product thinkers too? #Product #Manager vs. #Project #Manager vs. #Technical #Lead: Closer Than You Think People often talk about these roles like they’re worlds apart. In reality, when work gets real, the lines blur fast. A #Product #Manager defines the why; the #vision and the #problem to #solve. A #Project #Manager owns the when and how; #delivery, #scope, and #timelines. A #Technical #Lead brings it all to life; #turning #plans into #working #products. But here’s the thing: a good Technical Lead often ends up doing parts of both. You question the “#why,” plan the “#how,” and manage #people, #priorities, and #impact. You’re not just #coding; you’re #connecting #dots. At some point, it’s #less #about #titles and #more #about #ownership. If you can #balance #tech, #people, and #purpose. You’re already #leading #beyond your role. #Leadership #TechnicalLead #ProductManagement #ProjectManagement #CareerGrowth #Teamwork #OwnershipMindset #PHP #Python #GoLang #framework #Mentor

Back to Code. After 10 Years. I hadn’t written a line of code in a decade. Years in Product Management can do that to you. But here I am, back at it. It started with a push from a friend, then the right tools. Cursor IDE for code, Vercel or Replit for frontend. Frictionless stacks make learning addictive again. Patience was key. You wrestle with syntax, hallucinations, and humility, but friction builds fluency. LLMs changed the game. They won’t write perfect code, but 70% right is enough to move fast and build momentum. There’s never been a better time to code not as an engineer, but as a builder. With prototypes, workflows, and AI agents, the line between PM and dev is disappearing. If you’re a PM or founder thinking of jumping back in, happy to share what worked. This time, coding feels less like typing… and more like thinking in motion.

𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗜𝘁 In software development, perfection is an illusion — a moving target that never really stops shifting. You can spend weeks refining logic, optimizing functions, or tweaking UI pixels... but until your product meets real users, you’re optimizing in the dark. 💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵? Your 80% “good enough” release will always outperform your 100% “still in progress” idea. Because feedback is the ultimate optimizer — and you can’t get it until you ship. Of course, ship with intention: ✅ Test for critical issues ✅ Ensure stability ✅ Document what’s pending But don’t wait for perfect alignment — wait for real data. That’s what separates dreamers from doers in the dev world. Every shipped version teaches you more than another week of “tweaks.” So the next time you hesitate before hitting Deploy, remember: 👉 Done is better than perfect. Launched is better than lost in revision. #StartupMindset #CodeEssence #BuildInPublic #SoftwareDevelopment #ProductLaunch #DevelopersCommunity #Agile #CodingLife

Before you hit "submit" on that code review, you rewrite your comment three times. 🫥 Too harsh? Too vague? Will this demotivate them? 🤔 This is the hidden cost of code review. You're not just evaluating code; you're managing relationships, protecting egos, and maintaining team culture. Multiply that across dozens of reviews each week, and it becomes draining. Here's the thing: developers tend to accept automated feedback more readily. When Refacto flags an issue, nobody takes it personally. It's not their senior developer telling them they made a mistake. It's just the tool, pointing out objective problems. This shifts your focus to where human insight matters most. Instead of itemizing every formatting issue, you discuss trade-offs. Instead of pointing out missing tests, you talk about architecture. Your feedback becomes mentorship, not nitpicking. 🚀 The emotional labor doesn't disappear, but it shifts to where it's actually valuable. 🦾 How do you strike a balance between honest feedback and team morale? #Productivity #Growth #AICodeReviews #CodeReviews #DevelopersCommunity