About me
Product Manager and
Product Owner
with over 10 years of hands-on experience in leading the full product life cycle and spearheading digital initiatives, I bring a wealth of expertise to the table.
My unique blend of business acumen and an academic background in Information Technology, Human-Computer Interaction and Software Quality Assurance empowers me to create innovative products that solve customer problems and drive strategic business goals.
I am passionate about developing technology-driven products that make a meaningful, positive impact on a wide range of people, enhancing their lives in significant ways.
My Journey into Product Management
My career in Product Management began at Gamesys. In 2011, I joined Gamesys as a contracted Software Test Analyst, initially on a two-week renewing contract. I worked as part of a Scrum team, testing features manually and creating automated tests. Our closely-knit and fun team thrived on collaboration. After two years as a contractor, the company offered me a permanent position, which I happily accepted.
When our team’s Product Owner was frequently stretched too thin, I recognised an opportunity to support my team further. I proactively stepped in to identify gaps in requirements and worked directly with stakeholders to clarify them. By coordinating changes with the UX and design teams, I helped streamline our team’s work and save valuable time for all members.
My proactive approach and dedication were greatly appreciated by my team and our line manager, leading to a new career opportunity as a Product Owner. The management team was so impressed with my performance and team’s feedback, they created a new role for me, set up a brand new team, and transitioned me into this position without any formal hiring process or probationary period. I stepped into my new role as a Product Owner in 2014, marking the start of an exciting journey in product management.
My core competencies and skills
Every professional is defined by their unique skills and abilities. Here are some of mine.
Product
Strategy
By defining product vision, strategy, and roadmaps, I ensure that products align with the company’s overall strategy and objectives, driving business growth and innovation.
Tools: Product Canvas, Product Board, JIRA Product Discovery, and Miro.
Project
Management
I set and manage product goals, scope, deliverables, milestones, and timelines to ensure timely problem-solving and successful project completion.
Tools: Monday, MS Project.
User and
Market Research
Through user and market research, I identify customer pain points and underserved needs. I employ methods such as interviews, workshops, field visits, call listening, survey, and competitor Analysis.
Tools: SurveyMonkey, Miro, Google Forms, MS Forms
User Experience
Design
By focusing on customer needs and creating user-centric experiences, I help to design products that customers love and that effectively solve their problems. My techniques include Wireframing, User Journey Mapping, and Usability Testing.
Tools: Visio, Miro, Balsamiq, Figma, InVision.
Product Development
and Leadership
I elicit requirements, create detailed user stories with acceptance criteria, and manage the product backlog to establish a shared understanding of priorities.
Tools: JIRA, Trello, Confluence, Miro
Agile
methodology
Utilising Agile frameworks and ceremonies, I ensure continuous improvement and effective product development. I work with methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, and SAFe.
Tools: Miro, TeamRetro
Data
Analytics
By identifying, defining, and tracking KPIs and metrics, I gain critical insights into product performance, uncover hidden issues, and understand patterns of behaviour. Data-driven approach allows me to establish product success and continuously improve product performance.
Tools: Google Analytics, Tableau, and BigQuery.
Communication
& Collaboration
Effective communication and collaboration are key to my approach, ensuring alignment among stakeholders on product development progress and performance. I keep everyone informed and working towards common goals.
Tools: Slack, Teams, and Zoom.
My core competencies and skills
Every professional is defined by their unique skills and abilities. Here are some of mine.
Product
Strategy
By defining product vision, strategy, and roadmaps, I ensure that products align with the company’s overall strategy and objectives, driving business growth and innovation.
Tools: Product Canvas, Product Board, JIRA Product Discovery, and Miro.
Project
Management
I set and manage product goals, scope, deliverables, milestones, and timelines to ensure timely problem-solving and successful project completion.
Tools: Monday, MS Project.
User and
Market Research
Through user and market research, I identify customer pain points and underserved needs. I employ methods such as interviews, workshops, field visits, call listening, survey, and competitor Analysis.
Tools: SurveyMonkey, Miro, Google Forms, MS Forms
User Experience
Design
By focusing on customer needs and creating user-centric experiences, I help to design products that customers love and that effectively solve their problems. My techniques include Wireframing, User Journey Mapping, and Usability Testing.
Tools: Visio, Miro, Balsamiq, Figma, InVision.
Product Development
and Leadership
I elicit requirements, create detailed user stories with acceptance criteria, and manage the product backlog to establish a shared understanding of priorities.
Tools: JIRA, Trello, Confluence, Miro
Agile
methodology
Utilising Agile frameworks and ceremonies, I ensure continuous improvement and effective product development. I work with methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, and SAFe.
Tools: Miro, TeamRetro
Data
Analytics
By identifying, defining, and tracking KPIs and metrics, I gain critical insights into product performance, uncover hidden issues, and understand patterns of behaviour. Data-driven approach allows me to establish product success and continuously improve product performance.
Tools: Google Analytics, Tableau, and BigQuery.
Communication
& Collaboration
Effective communication and collaboration are key to my approach, ensuring alignment among stakeholders on product development progress and performance. I keep everyone informed and working towards common goals.
Tools: Slack, Teams, and Zoom.
Professional Qualifications
Certifications
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Scrum Alliance
Agile Project Manager Foundation, APMG International
ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing,
British Computer Society
Education
MSc Business Systems Analysis and Design (Merit),
City University London
BSc (Hons) Information Systems (2:1),
Manchester Metropolitan University
My career history
After completing my master’s degree, I began my career as a Software Test Analyst. Over the course of five years, I was given the opportunity to transition into product management.