Alright guys, I am back to talk about my career and how I ended up in technology and startups! I double majored in Psychology and Management @MonashUni because I wanted to understand human behaviour. This was a good foundation for my research skills.
After my graduation, I enrolled for an LLB at Wits, in my 2nd year I had to drop out due to financial constraints. At the time I had also started "blogging" for House music stations in the UK. I was getting paid for this, and some months it paid for my groceries.
In November 2015, I applied to a digital marketing program for youth called @DigifyAfrica. I was looking for an opportunity to enter digital marketing since I was already a content creator. Surprisingly I got in, I was privileged to be their first Zimbabwean too.
A 3 month bootcamp, I learnt about digital marketing, the basics and figured out that I was an analytical creative. It was a great opportunity because I was very supported as a young black woman in the creative IT space. After grad I joined Omnicom Media Group as an intern
I worked on Google Display and Google Search campaigns for some really great international and local brands. I then moved to @CavalryMedia where I was a PPC Specialist, sometimes copywriter,sometimes Project Manager.Great learning experience, amazing bosses!
I stayed for 15 months and then I won a scholarship to study software entrepreneurship at @MESTAfrica. This was a turning point for me as I took a year off work to understand what building a digital product with a team of developers actually truly entails.
@MESTAfrica gave me the tools to be able to understand how to use my existing skillset to contribute to a technical team. I discovered I was a product manager. I cared about the user experience for the users. Solving the why, and making money while moving deliverables forward.
I also found that I still enjoyed digital marketing "so now that we have built the product - how do we make our customers want it more than anything else" @MESTAfrica was tough, one of the toughest learning moments in my life because your entire mental model changes.
I also worked on some really great products as an operations and product manager with really smart people i.e @judytechnology @Chekkitapp @AFRadioHQ MEST teaches you how to build the next big unicorn idea with a technical team
After MEST, I worked for the amazing @AkosuaAnnobil Annobil as Editor and Digital Consultant of @AfricaBiz2020. I got to deliver a hot newsletter on startup news from across West Africa everymonth, liased with the CEO to run tech events and kept a pulse on the ecosystem.
In December 2018 I flew back home after close to two years in Ghana. I started working in software sales for a local consulting firm where I learnt how to close a sale. Very important learning experience because the best investor is your customer!
Now, I specifically work at the intersection of tech - those building new things, product - those who require clarity on the next feature and marketing - how do we reach our users. I freelance for a couple of startups who are my clients across East, West and Southern Africa.
I really love tech because you can be anything you want to be. Anything. If you want to be a world class coder, a highly sought after User Experience designer or a tech consultant like me - then compounded interest is your best friend. 1 year can change your life.
Its an industry where you can thrive if you are a constant learner who has a high necessity standard. You can go far if you despise the mediocre and low quality work. I know it can seem confounding on where to start or how to enter, so I will list a few ways below.
Research on the internet what different roles mean and what they do, attend tech meetups and ask all your questions, find someone who looks like future you in 5 years time and ask for help. Join Facebook groups that help you transition into these careers ( there are so many)
Lastly do the work. If you want to be a developer, open your Github account and commit all your horrible code, you will be proud of it one day.If you want to be a product manager/marketer - join projects, attend hackathons. Make your mark and be consistent about improving.
Tech is the gamechanger for Africa and that's our level up. Its our opportunity. So we need as many people as possible in this space. Its an industry that embraces change even before it comes, so even as you figure yourself out, you will find communities like home.
I am here to answer all your questions about my career, the different roles and anything you would like to know. I will be putting up the last thread of the day at 4pm on how to break into product management with no experience later on! For now, Im excited to receive ur questions
I also have a TEDx talk on "How BlockChain Can Transform Africa Now " - you can watch it here -
To understand how startups work - please head over here - medium.com/@heathermavung…
To understand how startups work - please head over here - medium.com/@heathermavung…
