From expert to intern: how the love of product drove Bisola Abimbola to Moniepoint

Some things don’t happen until you leave your comfort zone. What feels like stability and a clear career path can also become a place where growth stymies. This is why Bisola chose to pivot into a new tech role: Product Management.

Bisola Abimbola, a customer success expert, left a mastered path to begin again as a Product Management Intern at Moniepoint, a decision many would hesitate to make.

Before, she had worked as a People Operations Associate, Customer Success Manager, and Assistant Project Manager. Yet, she sought to gain hands-on experience in Product Management that would expose her to real product ownership.

“Product management wasn’t always the goal, but it found me while I was figuring out my next steps. Working in customer support at a fintech company, I was constantly seeing how customer feedback translated into actionable product insights,” She said. 

The defining moment came when a customer requested the ability to change their settlement schedule. She watched as her colleague optimised the settlement frequency for that merchant, and it struck her that she was always in the background of product decisions.

That mindset changed everything!

Bisola Abimbola

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Bisola’s journey into Product Management

“Sometimes the biggest risk is staying comfortable, and I’m glad I didn’t,” Abimbola said. 

While working as a Customer Success professional, she began to question her role in the product lifecycle. Beyond executing processes and supporting users, she found herself drawn to the decision-making behind the products themselves. She wanted to move closer to where ideas were shaped and solutions were defined.

That curiosity led her to explore product management. After speaking with mentors who affirmed her strengths and potential fit for the role, she decided to pursue the path more intentionally.

To build foundational knowledge, she enrolled in a product management course. While the programme helped her understand core concepts, it also exposed a gap — the difference between learning product theory and actually practising it. It became clear that real growth would require hands-on experience, not just structured learning.

That opportunity came through Moniepoint’s Women in Tech Internship. She saw it as a chance to bridge the gap between theory and practice. She then decided to apply for the Product Management track and was accepted.

The experience marked a turning point in her career. Rather than observing from the sidelines, she was given real product ownership, working on multiple projects and contributing meaningfully to their execution. 

“I can confidently say the internship was one of the best things that's happened in my career. Going in, I didn't know what to expect, but I was given real product ownership, working on multiple projects and driving them forward like an actual product manager, not just observing from the sidelines. That hands-on experience made all the difference and solidified my resolve that this is exactly where I'm meant to be,” Abimbola said.Moniepoint women in tech beneficiaries

Now, Bisola draws on her background in customer success to inform her approach. She focuses on understanding user needs through continuous engagement, while collaborating with cross-functional teams such as engineering and quality assurance to improve product performance and drive customer satisfaction.

She optimises onboarding experiences in fintech, with a particular focus on balancing security and accessibility. It’s an area she finds compelling, having developed an interest in risk and user behaviour during her earlier experience in customer support.

“I’m excited about applying my knowledge of customer success and product management to continue delivering value for both customers and the organisation. I’m passionate about building strong relationships, problem-solving, and delivering customer-centric product enhancements,” Abimbola said.

Bisola Abimbola

Challenges and successes

For Abimbola, one of the most defining challenges in her transition story lies in building systems that are both secure and accessible. Working within fintech, she operates at the intersection of trust and usability. She ensures that legitimate users can access financial services seamlessly, while safeguarding platforms against fraud.

This balance is particularly critical in emerging markets, where trust in digital platforms is still evolving. Getting it right, she explains, can significantly influence the pace of financial inclusion. Over time, two core skills have shaped her ability to navigate this complexity: communication and ownership.

Her foundation in customer support made communication a natural strength. She developed a structured approach to keeping stakeholders informed — clearly outlining what is happening, why it is happening, and the steps being taken to resolve issues. This clarity not only improves efficiency but also builds trust and alignment across teams.

Equally important has been her ability to take ownership. Earlier in her career, she primarily executed assigned tasks, but her transition into product management required a shift in mindset. At Moniepoint, she was entrusted with real responsibility — expected not just to contribute, but to lead outcomes.

“Projects were thrown at me with an implicit question: Can you handle this? I had to step up, own the outcomes, and actually deliver. That experience made me comfortable with the autonomy and accountability I now have as a product manager,” Abimbola said.

Beyond technical and strategic responsibilities, she also had to adapt to the realities of cross-functional collaboration. Product management, she explains, requires constant follow-ups by coordinating across teams, tracking progress, and ensuring that priorities stay aligned.

This level of persistence did not come naturally at first. Initially, she expected quick responses, assuming alignment across teams. But she soon realised that every team operates within its own priorities and timelines. 

To move work forward, she had to become more proactive by consistently following up, clarifying expectations, and, at times, repeating requests to keep projects on track. That experience helped her develop a new level of confidence in her ability to influence and persuade, an essential skill in product leadership.

“Research is my foundation, and I genuinely enjoy it. It's one of the best parts of product management. But research doesn't just mean using search engines or reading articles. Some of my most valuable learning comes from asking people in my company: "Has something like this happened before? How did you solve it?" or "Can I pick your brain on this issue?" The landscape moves fast, but staying close to the people doing the work, asking questions, and continuously documenting what I learn keeps me grounded and growing,” Abimbola said.

While she acknowledges the progress being made, she is also aware of persistent misconceptions about women in tech, particularly the assumption that women are less technical or better suited to support roles. 

Rather than directly confronting these biases, she focuses on demonstrating her capabilities through her work — taking ownership, solving problems, and delivering results consistently.

Bisola Abimbola

“During the internship, we had the privilege of speaking with other women who had gone through similar programs before us. Hearing senior product managers share their real experiences—how they started at entry level and navigated their way up made the path feel tangible and achievable. The lived experience that directly shaped how I approached my own work,” Abimbola added.

Final words

Abimbola’s 6-month journey as an Intern at Moniepoint ended with a full-time role as a Product Manager in November 2025.

Her advice to any woman in tech who wishes to pivot in her tech career or begin from scratch in Product Management is that:

“Start with what you already know and build from there. You don’t need to start from zero or wait for permission to transition into tech. Many roles—especially in product—value skills like problem-solving, communication, and understanding users, even if they weren’t developed in a “tech” role. Seek out environments that prioritise learning and real responsibility, and don’t be afraid to take a step back if it gives you a clearer path forward,” She advised.

Read also: “Conflicts don’t come from bad intentions, they come from ambiguity”,- Inside the mind of a fintech legal guardian, Lois Iheanyichukwu

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