From stumbling upon the Motherboard Internship Program to diving into project selection and execution, Tosin Akintibu provides an account of her growth as a Product Management Analyst.
One Tuesday, while scrolling through LinkedIn, I came across the Motherboard Internship program. I was at a stage where I needed to gain as much hands-on experience as possible, so I did some research about Motherboard and I found their solutions impressive. I immediately applied for the Product Management Internship category.
The application process was straightforward. I had to work on a product strategy document for the assessment, which prompted me to research more about the product. After submitting my assessment, I was invited for interviews with Lekan Olude, the CEO of Motherboard, and Micheal Inaolaji, the Product Management Lead.
It was a great and validating feeling when I finally got my acceptance mail because I'd been very optimistic and looking forward to getting it.
My first day at work came and I focused on my onboarding. I got to know more about Motherboard's product and team dynamics. From my interactions with fellow interns, it was clear that everyone in the cohort was exceptional.
I was told to select a project of interest that I would take ownership of. At first, it was a bit challenging, especially understanding the expectations for each project. Eventually, two of my selections were approved: Motherboard Jira Discovery and Zoho CRM.
The first step for the project was creating a vision document. I worked with a colleague who was also interested in the Motherboard Jira Discovery. Initially, we were unsure about the project's expectations, but after a meeting with the Product Management Lead, things became clearer. For the other project, I collaborated with a data analyst intern, and together, we were able to shape our vision document and identify the problems to solve.
Working with others on the project wasn't difficult. We made sure to schedule meetings to ideate and collaborate on what needed to be done.
The Motherboard Jira Discovery project involved managing the board, prioritizing tasks, and building PRDs before the next sprint. At some point, the project required me to manage scrum meetings which exposed me to how to better use Jira on standups.
Reflecting on this experience, my role as a Product Manager in a Fintech firm greatly benefited from the PRD development skills I refined at Motherboard.
During those three months, I expanded my toolkit by mastering Jira for ticket management, using Whimsical for user flows, and creating PRDs before sprints. Collaborating on PRDs also sharpened my research, writing, and communication skills.
But it wasn't just about learning tools; it was also about building lasting connections within the team.
One defining success emerged from the Motherboard Jira Discovery project; our redefined approach in managing Jira not only streamlined processes but also improved team efficiency. That's a win in my book!
Looking back, I had an amazing experience at Motherboard. It was filled with learning, growth, and friendships that I'll always cherish. I'm especially grateful for the guidance of the Product Management Lead and the support of my project partner.
