We speak to Damilola Adelekan, Lead Product Manager at Remedial Health Solutions, to find out how she got her job in product.
📍 Lagos, Nigeria
🎯 Lead Product Manager, Remedial Health Solutions
🕒 In role: 2 years | PM experience: Almost 4 years
Damilola Adelekan is Lead Product Manager at Remedial Health Solutions, a healthtech company streamlining pharmaceutical procurement and healthcare delivery across Africa. With a background in communications and public relations, Damilola’s journey into tech is anything but traditional—but it’s exactly that unconventional path that makes her impact extraordinary.
In her current role, she leads the product team under the CTO’s org, managing two product managers and working closely with engineers, designers, and support staff. Together, they power a suite of apps—from customer-facing platforms to internal ERP systems—that support 14,000+ healthcare providers across the continent.
Damilola’s Zoology degree taught her to analyse complex systems (like ecosystems) and communicate findings clearly—skills that she uses daily to simplify technical jargon for stakeholders. Group projects honed her ability to lead diverse teams, ensuring all voices are heard—a practice that she now applies when mediating between developers and clinicians.
I actually saw the job post on LinkedIn, but I don’t even remember what the pull was. I just remember skipping it and feeling the urge to go apply for for it. I had an offer from another healthtech company that I was actively considering at the time. I had to do a Pros and Cons comparison on Google Sheets. Remedial Health was the better fit.
What was the interview process like?
There were three stages:
- A virtual interview with HR and the CTO.
- A behavioural and competency assessment.
- A final interview with the CEO.
I had about 2–3 days to complete the assessment. The questions were practical and scenario-based—things like prioritisation under limited engineering resources and how I’d handle underperforming team members.
To prepare, I watched a bunch of product management YouTube videos, especially Mind the Product’s own talks. I used those to structure my responses with the STAR method.
The culture at Remedial Health is incredibly empowering. My voice genuinely matters—whether I’m advocating for user needs or proposing new features.
For instance, I once suggested integrating an analytics tool into our mobile apps. Leadership not only approved it—they fast-tracked the resources to get it piloted. That kind of trust fuels my drive.
I’m not just building apps—I’m redesigning Africa’s healthcare infrastructure. Leading a team that serves 14,000+ providers gives me a front-row seat to how tech can bridge equity gaps.
And beyond the day-to-day, mentoring junior product managers—especially those from non-traditional backgrounds—keeps the work deeply meaningful.
Managing upward expectations. Early on, there was pressure to ship features fast. But I learned that sometimes you have to “slow down to speed up”—use data to justify research phases and push back when necessary. It’s all about earning credibility through outcomes.
What’s your typical day like?
Morning: Stand-ups with engineering. Reviewing user feedback.
Afternoon: Meetings, product documentation, more meetings.
Evening: Mentoring product managers and product hopefuls.
Our team is lean but high-impact. I lead 2 product managers, and we collaborate closely with 8 developers, 2 designers, and a tech support specialist. Products under my scope include the customer app, sales agent app, driver app, marketplace partner app, HMO app, and ERP system.
It started with a mindset shift. I realised that the skills I gained from PR—campaign planning, audience engagement, storytelling—were directly applicable.
Creating Instagram graphics? That’s visual storytelling.
- Managing client accounts? That’s stakeholder management.
- Planning content calendars? That’s roadmapping.
- Tracking social media metrics? That’s data-driven iteration.
"Ironically, the skills I once used to grow Instagram followers now help me grow Africa’s healthcare infrastructure."
It’s all about reframing your experience and finding the tech application.
I always start with this: Your existing skills are your superpower, not a liability. When I transitioned to product management, I felt like an impostor.
However, I soon realised my ability to craft narratives and engage audiences made me uniquely equipped to advocate for user needs and bridge gaps between technical and business teams. Reframe your “non-tech” experience: Project management from organising campaigns? User empathy from community engagement? These are critical tech skills. List every transferable skill you have and you’ll be shocked by how much you already bring to the table. My communications background became my edge in translating complex tech concepts into business value.
Yours might be finance, education, or healthcare. Tech needs diverse perspectives to solve Africa’s problems—own yours unapologetically. Learning is a continuous process, keep growing and learn as much as you can. Don’t limit yourself to the product management industry.
AI-driven tools have changed everything. I rely on tools like ChatGPT, Fireflies, Zeda, and Gamma—they’ve become indispensable in how I ideate, plan, and collaborate.
Every experience you’ve had is a building block. Mine just happened to be in PR and zoology—but now, I use that background every day to design systems, communicate clearly, and bridge teams. Tech isn’t just about code—it’s about people, systems, and storytelling.
Inspired by Damilola’s story? We’d love to hear yours. Email us at editor@mindtheproduct.com or fill in this Typeform to be featured!
