Hassanat’s journey into tech was driven by her desire to make a meaningful impact. As a biochemist, she felt the need to transition into something more fulfilling after realising that her degree in Biochemistry might not offer enough opportunities for her as an entry-level.
The Stack Journal sat down with Hassanat Abubakar, a product manager with over three years of experience, to discuss her role and the impact she’s making in the tech industry.
Can we get to know you?
My name is Hassanat Abubakar. I’m a product manager with over three years of experience in product management and development. I’m also the founder of FUSE Varsity, which stands for Future Skills Education Varsity.
Most people already know who a product manager is, but what does it mean to you? What is your definition of a product manager?
For me, it’s all about impact. You are creating impact, whether through building products that help people or by imparting knowledge. So, impact comes first, followed by problem-solving. Problem solvers think critically and find ways to improve things and situations. Being a product manager means being a problem solver.
What inspired you to be a product manager? How did you get into tech, and how did you find your way to product management?
Interestingly, I transitioned from project management to product management. My journey began during my NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) when I was posted to a hospital due to my background in healthcare. Before that, I had always enjoyed planning and managing projects, although it wasn’t formally termed “project management” at the time. At university, I served as the academic director and course representative, where I led various initiatives.
During my NYSC, I realised that entry-level opportunities for biochemists were quite limited and a friend in tech suggested I learn a new skill before the end of my service year so I would have something to fall back on afterwards.
My passion for healthcare also played a role in my transition. I decided to combine my interests and pursue project management within the healthcare sector. That marked the beginning of my journey, moving from being a project manager in healthcare and eventually to a product manager. That’s how my transition unfolded.
So, how has the journey been so far? How is the experience?
I’d say it’s been rewarding. There’s a clear career progression when it comes to tech skills, and for me, it’s been fulfilling to build products and initiatives that make life easier for people in their daily activities. However, it has also been challenging because technology is constantly evolving. You need to stay competitive, understand market trends, and really know your customers.
Have you ever encountered challenges as a woman in tech?
Yes, there have been many challenges. Early in my career, I worked at an organisation where I was the only female on the development team. This meant I had to stand out and put in extra effort—not because of external pressure, but because I felt the need to prove myself.
This meant I had to stand out and put in extra effort—not because of external pressure, but because I felt the need to prove myself.
Hassanat talked about FUSE Varsity, her platform that was launched two months ago after she realised that many graduates lack in-demand skills. She said she felt compelled to empower people and build a community for those who want to learn, thrive, and grow in tech.
“The need to empower people led to the birth of FUSE Varsity, an all-encompassing platform where people can learn in-demand skills. I have trained over 500 people in product management and mentored a lot of newbies into Tech” She says.
Hassanat plans to launch her community- TryebyFUSE community in a few days.
How were you able to start your platform?
I’ve always been passionate about skills education and empowerment. Over the years, I served as the lead Project Coordinator at Technoobng, an organisation dedicated to empowering newbies with tech skills and providing them with the experience needed to grow.
The realization that it’s essential to focus not just on tech skills, but also on other in-demand skills, led me to build FUSE Varsity.
I was able to start FUSE Varsity and achieve a lot by tapping into my network and leveraging the impact I’ve made in different communities, particularly within Product Management communities.
When asked what advice she has for aspiring women in tech, she said, “If you want to transition into tech as a woman, be sure to know why you are transitioning. That is one piece of advice I’d always give a lot of people because transitioning into a career path you are not familiar with is not always smooth. Don’t say you are going down this path because someone else is doing it or because there is money in tech or someone said you are good at it. You need to know and identify the driving force behind your journey because at the end of the day you need that career progress, you need that reason to constantly motivate you as to why and where you are and should be at every point in your journey.
Also be passionate, if you believe Tech is for you, you have to be passionate about it, tech is constantly evolving so you have to be in a space where you are willing to grow as fast as possible”.