Florence didn’t set out to become a Product Manager, she simply followed her curiosity, her love for building, and her drive to solve real problems. What started as a front-end development journey gradually unfolded into a passion for product thinking, community building, and guiding others entering tech.
In this interview, she shares how she transitioned into PM, built Product Buddies, earned an industry nomination, and why the version of her from three years ago would be proud today.
Hi Florence, Welcome to our Growth Series. Can you please tell us about yourself. who is Florence Ogunbore?
My name is Florence Oguunbore. I’m a Product Manager by day and a Web Developer whenever I get the chance. I actually started my tech journey as a web developer, learning front-end. Along the way, I came across product management, although at the time, I didn’t know that was what I was doing.
While working as a developer in a software agency, I found myself taking on responsibilities like coordinating tasks, managing people, and handling product decisions. It wasn’t until later that I realized those responsibilities fell under product management. I’ve now been a Product Manager for over three years.
You mentioned you started earlier but didn’t know it was product management at the time. Can you clarify your timeline?
Yes, I started coding in 2018 and worked fully as a developer. In 2021, while working at a software agency, I was put in charge of an internal product. I was acting almost like the CTO managing people, assigning tasks, keeping an eye on deliverables, even though I didn’t know it was called product management then.
I remember telling a friend that I didn’t want to only build things; I wanted to be part of the process before the building started. Even as a developer, I always attended client meetings to understand what we were building.
Later in 2021, I stepped away from coding and focused solely on managing that in-house project. That was when I consciously began learning product management. From December 2021 to January 2022, I started taking PM courses. By early 2022, I moved fully into product management, and by the end of the year I got my first PM role.
You also mentioned you still work as a web developer when you get the chance. Why “when you get the chance”?
Because product management is extremely time demanding. You have meetings from morning to afternoon, working closely with teams in real time.
Web development, on the other hand, gives me flexibility I can jump into it any time my schedule is free. But PM work is mostly daytime and structured.
Tell us more about Product Buddies. What is it about, and what have you achieved so far?
Product Buddies started as a support group. A popular product management OG created a PM challenge where participants picked a product and did a presentation. We created a channel for that challenge, and afterward we asked ourselves: Do we really need to disband this? Why not build something out of it?
That’s how Product Buddies was birthed. It started as a community for entry-level PMs and later grew to include mid-level and senior PMs. Today, we have over 1,000 members. We also have a Twitter community. We keep the group friendly, not overly serious, but still very supportive.
You were nominated for the Product that Counts Awards this year. How did that feel?
Honestly, I can never get used to how people see me. A friend asked for my information, and I was confused at first. Then she told me she wanted to nominate me for something.
The people who have won before are OGs in the industry, so it felt surreal. I’ve only been doing this for about three years, so the nomination felt big. I didn’t even know how to process it.
What are some cool things about product management that you’d tell someone interested in breaking into the field?
Two things:
1. You’ll learn a lot. PM exposes you to new knowledge, communities, and people.
2. You get to help people. There’s nothing like seeing users interact with a product you worked on, it’s very rewarding.
Would Florence from three years ago be proud of who you are now?
The 2022 version of me would be proud of me like mad! I’ve achieved so much, learned so much, and I’m genuinely enjoying this journey.
For someone who wants to go into PM or web design, what’s your advice? Should they get a job first and learn on the go, or learn first?
I’d say start with a beginner course. Learn the basics, the foundation is important and unavoidable. Use free resources too. First learn it, then decide if it’s really what you want.
After that, start putting yourself out there. Show your process, practice publicly, and apply for opportunities even if it’s an internship role.
Florence’s story is a reminder that career journeys don’t always follow a straight line, sometimes they unfold as we grow, explore, and step into new challenges. From writing code to managing products and building thriving communities, her path shows the power of curiosity, consistency, and learning in public. Whether you’re transitioning into PM, exploring web development, or still figuring out where you belong in tech, her story is proof that starting small, staying open, and showing your process can take you farther than you imagine.
