Artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting many sectors in France, including startups. Nearly half of French employees anticipate a "significant" evolution of their job under the influence of AI in the coming months.
AI is creating exciting new careers in fields like natural language processing, computer vision, and machine learning. Startups like TechPow are at the forefront of these innovations that are transforming the way we work.
Hi, My name is Rahmot Afolabi, I am a product manager and currently the co-founder and CEO of TechPow, an AI-powered chatbot that makes acquiring digital skills as simple as chatting with a friend.
What I do
Starting with the quote by Otis S. Johnson, "If you believe in a cause, be willing to stand up for that cause with a million people or by yourself," perfectly encapsulates the spirit behind TechPow.
As a former computer instructor in a rural community, I witnessed firsthand the lack of digital skills among people of all ages. When I asked my students why they were there, a staggering 95% answered they were solely focused on passing the JAMB exam. Only a small 5% expressed interest in acquiring digital skills, mostly adults aged 35 and above. This observation saddened me deeply, knowing that in today's world, being digitally literate is crucial for success.
My dedication to promoting digital literacy earned me the prestigious 2021 Diana Award. However, it wasn't until 2024, after taking a career break, that I decided to take matters into my own hands and address this pressing issue. Despite exploring several ideas, none felt as feasible as I hoped. Frustration mounted until one day, lying on my bed, I asked myself, "Rahmot, what do you love doing?" The answer was clear: teaching. Then came the pivotal question, "What change do you want to see in the world?" Without hesitation, I envisioned a world where everyone is digitally skilled and prepared for the future of work.
With that realization, TechPow was born. Our main goal is simple yet ambitious: to empower individuals of all backgrounds with essential digital skills, ensuring they thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of technology. Through innovative solutions and a passion for teaching, TechPow strives to make digital literacy accessible to all, because in a world driven by technology, no one should be left behind.
My missions
At TechPow, our mission is crystal clear: to bridge the digital divide by making essential tech skills accessible and engaging for everyone. We believe that in a world increasingly driven by technology, no one should be left behind.
Here's how we achieve this mission:
Personalized Learning: We leverage the power of AI to create customized learning journeys. TechPow understands your unique needs and goals, and then tailors a program that fits your pace and learning style.
Engaging Content: Gone are the days of dry lectures! TechPow makes learning fun and interactive. We use bite-sized lessons, gamification elements, and real-world scenarios to keep you motivated.
Focus on Actionable Skills: We go beyond theory. TechPow equips you with practical skills you can immediately apply in your studies, career, and daily life.
Why is TechPow important for the future?
The world is undergoing a digital transformation. From communication to work, technology is fundamentally changing how we operate. Having strong digital skills is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity.
Here's how TechPow empowers you for the future:
Increased Employability: A strong digital skillset makes you a more attractive candidate in the job market.
Enhanced Productivity: Tech skills allow you to work smarter, not harder, by leveraging technology to your advantage.
Lifelong Learning: TechPow equips you with the tools to continuously adapt and learn new skills in a constantly evolving digital landscape.
By making digital literacy accessible and engaging, TechPow empowers individuals and communities to reach their full potential in the digital age. Join us on this exciting journey, and together, let's bridge the digital divide and unlock a brighter future for all!
Right now, founding my startup TechPow is my biggest achievement. I've wanted to do this for years, and taking the leap is something I'm really proud of, even though it's still in the early stages..
Looking ahead, my goal is to grow TechPow into a well-known and trusted brand, especially across Africa. I want to use the platform to empower more people in tech, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Achieving that kind of impact would be incredibly fulfilling.
Each part of my life journey has taught me valuable lessons. I'm excited to keep learning and making a real difference through my work.
Being a product manager and Taking advantage of AI
Okay! Let's start with an assumption.
Let's assume your bestie wants to celebrate her 16th birthday and assign you the role of the party planner. Which means you're in charge of everything from deciding what food to serve to making sure there's enough space for everyone to dance. Well, a product manager is kind of like the party planner for a product or an app instead of a party.
They're the ones who figure out what the product should do, who it's for, and how to make it the best it can be. They work with lots of different people, like designers, engineers, and marketers, to make sure everyone's on the same page and the product turns out awesome.
Now, let's talk about how I use AI in my work as a product manager. AI is like a super-smart assistant. It helps me gather and analyze data to understand what people want and need from our product. For example, if we're creating a new app, AI can help us figure out what features to include based on what users are looking for. It also helps me predict how well our product might do in the future by looking at trends and patterns in the data.
In summary, I use it to handle tedious tasks like data analysis and reporting, freeing up my time to focus on more strategic work.
Spend a day with me
Being the CEO of TechPow is pretty awesome, but it's definitely not a walk in the park! Think of it like being the captain of a superhero team, only instead of capes and masks, we wield the power of technology to create an amazing learning platform. Since we're a lean startup, I wear many hats – CEO, CTO (Chief Technology Officer), CPO (Chief Product Officer), CMO (Chief Marketing Officer), you name it! Here's a glimpse into what a typical day at TechPow might look like:
Morning Mission Mode (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM):
Fuel Up & Team Huddle: The day starts with a quick energy boost (think water, not coffee – gotta stay sharp!) Then, it's all about teamwork! Our COO, the super-organized operations whiz, and I huddle with our amazing product manager (also our cool social media manager). We discuss upcoming projects, brainstorm new ideas, and make sure everything is running smoothly.
Tech Talk Time: As CTO, I dive into the technical side of things. This could involve making changes to our landing page, fixing a bug, or researching the latest AI tech to keep TechPow on the cutting edge.
Afternoon Action (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM):
Learning Lab: Time to switch hats to CPO! I might be emailing users to get their feedback to ensure the TechPow chatbot is fun, easy to understand, and truly effective in teaching those essential digital skills.
Marketing Mastermind: CMO hat on! I might be brainstorming cool marketing ideas to spread the word about TechPow to high school students like you. This could involve creating social media posts, designing eye-catching flyers, or even answering interview questions (hint hint, that's where you are now!).
Evening Wrap-Up (4:00 PM - 5:00 PM):
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: We wrap up the day with another quick team meeting. This is a chance to discuss any challenges, celebrate our wins (big or small!), and plan for tomorrow.
Being the CEO of TechPow is a lot of fun, but it's also a big responsibility. There are days that fly by in a whirlwind of activity, and others that require some serious focus. But one thing's for sure – it's never boring! Every day brings a new challenge and a new opportunity to make a difference by empowering students with the digital skills they need to thrive.ir.
My background
My path to the tech world wasn't exactly straight out of a textbook. It all started with a childhood fascination with those cool hackers in movies, typing away in their hoodies. After high school, my dad enrolled me in a computer training institute, where I got my hands on the basics of digital skills. It wasn't the most glamorous start, but I devoured every lesson with hunger.
Fast forward a few years, and I was diving into front-end development, learning the building blocks of websites with HTML and CSS. Truth be told, it felt a little tame. I craved a challenge, so I took a sharp turn into back-end development, where I wrestled with JavaScript. Let me tell you, learning JavaScript on just my phone was no easy feat! But hey, perseverance is key, right?
My curiosity then led me to the world of the Internet of Things (IoT). Here, I even led a team of professors in building a weather station device – pretty cool, right? Data science was the next shiny object that caught my eye. After all, "data scientist" just sounded incredibly awesome.
That was until 2021, when I got accepted into the life-changing Women Techsters fellowship program. During orientation, each learning track facilitator opened my eyes to the vast possibilities within tech. That's where I stumbled upon product management for the very first time. The description resonated with me on a whole new level. Suddenly, I was faced with a dilemma: data science or product management?
The universe, however, had other plans. Due to overwhelming popularity, data science got removed from the program options. Talk about a curveball! But sometimes, the best things in life come unexpectedly. Product management became my default choice, and let me tell you, it's been the most incredible ride.
After completing my product management training, I got accepted into the Outreachy Internship, a paid, remote internship program that supports diversity in free and open source software. Then I became the Hub Coordinator for The Genius Hub, an initiative of Mindstream-ai and London Mayor skills program to equip underrepresented Londoners with tech skills. Afterward, I worked in a fintech company as a product manager. So far, I have worked across several domains which are not limited to Edtech, Blockchain, AI, and so on.
Here's the thing, high schoolers: My journey wasn't linear, and that's perfectly okay. The beauty of tech is that there are endless paths to explore. Don't be afraid to experiment, to take risks, and to embrace challenges.
Focus on GitHub
GitHub is like a virtual hub where people come together to work on software projects. It's a platform where developers store and share their code, collaborate on projects, and keep track of changes made to the code over time.
As a product manager, learning how to use GitHub can be incredibly valuable. By understanding how GitHub works, you can effectively collaborate with engineers and other team members, track the progress of projects, and provide valuable input and feedback.
One of the reasons why GitHub is so useful for the community is its role in open source projects. Open source projects are software projects where the code is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. GitHub provides a platform for developers from around the world to contribute to these projects, making them better and more accessible to everyone.
Additionally, GitHub helps foster a sense of community among developers. It provides tools for communication, collaboration, and sharing of knowledge and resources. Developers can learn from each other, share their ideas, and work together to solve problems and build innovative solutions.
Overall, GitHub plays a crucial role in the software development community by facilitating collaboration, fostering innovation, and making it easier for developers to work together on projects of all sizes and types. As a product manager, having a basic understanding of GitHub can help you better support your team and contribute to the success of your projects.
The Techsters fellowship
The Women Techsters Fellowship, run by the organization Tech4Dev, is a fantastic program specifically designed to empower young women in Africa by equipping them with in-demand tech skills.
It's a one-year virtual program aimed at young women between the ages of 16 and 40 across Africa.
The fellowship consists of two parts: the first 6 Months is where you’ll learn in-depth about various tech fields. The last 6 months is where you get hands-on experience through an internship. You'll also benefit from mentorship throughout this period.
The Women Techsters Fellowship is highly competitive, but if you're a self-motivated woman with a passion for tech, it's definitely worth applying. This program can be a game-changer, providing you with the skills and support you need to launch a successful career or business in the exciting world of technology.
Women in tech
In my career so far, I've been really fortunate that I haven't faced any major gender-related challenges. In fact, all of my male bosses have been incredibly supportive of my development and advancement. But I know that's not the case for a lot of women - I've heard my female peers complain about biases, microaggressions, and even outright discrimination in the workplace. The isolation and self-doubt that can come from working in an environment that wasn't built with you in mind is something I don't pray to witness.
That said, I am encouraged by the increased awareness and discussion around these issues in recent years. There does seem to be a growing recognition, at least in some organizations, that we need to work harder to foster more inclusive and equitable workplaces. Initiatives like mentorship programs, unconscious bias training, and efforts to amplify women's voices are starting to translate this awareness into positive change.
However, there's still a long way to go. We need to keep pushing to dismantle those deep-seated biases and create working environments where people of all genders can truly thrive. It's an important issue that hits close to home for me, and I'm hopeful we'll continue to see meaningful progress in the years to come.
Volunteering and life balance
In my free time, I'm very involved in volunteer work. I really enjoy helping people and making a positive impact in my community. I've volunteered with organizations like Girlz,FTW, serving on their executive team. I've also worked with the WHO Global Health Workforce Network, helping to organize their annual youth conference. And I've done data collection and analysis for the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management initiative.
Beyond that, I love spending time with kids. Playing with them and seeing their joy is so rewarding for me. It's a great way for me to recharge and give back.
I also enjoy mentoring entry-level product managers, sharing my experiences and advice. And I sometimes speak at events or facilitate training sessions - it's a great way for me to share my knowledge and connect with others.
Volunteering, community involvement, mentoring, and public speaking are all important passions of mine. I find so much fulfillment in using my time and skills to make the world a little bit better. It's an integral part of who I am outside of my day job.
Volunteering has taught me valuable collaboration skills, especially working with colleagues remotely. This experience has directly translated to my work as a product manager, where I often need to coordinate distributed teams to deliver projects successfully.
It's pretty easy for me. During work hours, I'm fully focused on my job. I don't let personal matters distract me. But as soon as I leave the office or log off, I switch completely to my personal life. My family and hobbies are my top priorities outside of work.
Role model Yes, my role model is Jane Egerton-Idehen. She's the CEO of NIGCOMSAT, and I really admire her. Even though she's married with kids, she's still climbing the leadership ladder. She's fearless and driven, and I see her as my future self. |
Some pieces of advice
Looking back on my career path, there are a few key pieces of advice I would give my younger self. First and foremost, I would emphasize the importance of getting that degree, no matter the field you choose. Having a solid educational foundation opens doors and provides invaluable skills and opportunities. I have missed quite a lot because I do not have a degree.
Secondly, I would encourage my younger self to embrace the winding, exploratory nature of a career path. The jumping between different tech roles and careers that may have seemed aimless at times actually served me well when I ultimately landed in product management. Each new experience, whether it aligned perfectly with my goals or not, made me more resourceful, adaptable, and open-minded.
Finally, I would advise my younger self to approach every opportunity to learn or acquire a new skill with enthusiasm and dedication. No knowledge is ever truly wasted - you can always find ways to apply skills in unexpected ways as your career evolves. Staying curious and committed to continuous learning has been one of the keys to my success.
The path may not always be linear, but embracing the unexpected twists and turns, leaning into your curiosity, and committing to lifelong learning will serve you well in the long run. Trust the process, and always keep an open mind.
For anyone reading this, my final word of advice would be - in a world where you can be anything, always remember to be kind and humane. Dream big, and don't be afraid to go after those dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem. Because you know what they say - it always seems impossible until it's done. And I truly believe you can do it! I'm rooting for you every step of the way. 💙
Edited by Mazzarine D. Léa C. et Sylvana S.
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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rahmot-afolabi/
Rahmot Afolabi: AI to revolutionize digital skills
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