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Mind the Product

Product Management

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Black History Month: Our favourite lessons from from Black Product Leaders at #mtpcon

B2B product management

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Louron serves as the Editor at Mind the Product, bringing nearly a decade of experience in editorial positions across business and technology publications. For any editorial inquiries, you can connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Louron Pratt

<p>We had the opportunity to talk to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/zainab-kwaw-swanzy-79b53776/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy</a>, a Senior Product Manager at <a href="https://home.barclays/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barclays</a>. She shares her journey in product and some of the lessons she learned about promoting diversity in the financial services sector.</p>
<h3>What is your career background, and how did you get into product?</h3>
<p>I&#8217;ve always been drawn to maths and tech, steering towards STEM subjects in school. I got an internship at Barclays whilst studying maths at university and this opened the door to the bank’s graduate programme. I&#8217;ve now been with Barclays for about seven and a half years, moving through roles and teams. Currently, I&#8217;m a Senior Product Manager, overseeing a small team dedicated to improving the experiences of customers who use the Barclays app and online banking.</p>
<h3>What have been your biggest learnings and challenges while working at Barclays?</h3>
<p>The beauty of being somewhere as large as Barclays is that there are many people around you with the same vested interests and goals. You never feel like you’re on your own. So that&#8217;s been great. My biggest learning has been that you must bring people on a journey with you. A lot of my role now is about ensuring people are on board with our strategy and goals so we can deliver what we need to.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s great to have technical knowledge, but being able to bridge the gap between technologists and non-technologists for senior stakeholders is crucial. It&#8217;s a balance between attention to detail, technicalities, and taking a step back to communicate the bigger picture.</p>
<h3>What key skills do product managers need to be successful?</h3>
<p>Many skills can be learned as a product manager. I&#8217;ve encountered different types of product managers over the years, some more creative and strategic, others more technical. When I’m hiring, I don’t necessarily look for people with existing product experience or certifications. There&#8217;s an argument that anyone could be a product manager; it&#8217;s about finding your unique skill set to thrive. You don&#8217;t have to have intense technical knowledge to be a great product manager, and you will learn a lot of product-specific language on the job. The key skills lie in <a href="https://www.mindtheproduct.com/the-key-is-communication-leading-a-travel-product-through-the-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">communication</a>, leadership, and problem-solving.</p>
<h3>How does your work day start and finish?</h3>
<p>I never miss breakfast, and if I&#8217;m working from home, I tend to go to the gym before work. That&#8217;s a great way to start my day. I also like to read on public transport during my commute. In terms of ending the day, I might use that time to meet friends or family after being in the office. When working from home, I try to have a clean break, close the laptop, and do something I enjoy. It&#8217;s important to draw a line between work and personal life.</p>
<h3>Have you faced any particular challenges or experiences as a black product manager?</h3>
<p>When you&#8217;re one of the few black people in a room, it can be challenging, and at times, you may feel like you have to work harder to prove yourself and show that you “deserve” to be there.  It can sometimes feel as though there’s a pressure to represent well to not be overlooked.</p>
<p>The tech and <a href="https://www.mindtheproduct.com/product-leadership-in-financial-services-by-hakim-mendjeli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finance</a> industries, in particular, have more progress to make in terms of diversity. I&#8217;ve been in situations where I&#8217;ve felt the need to speak up on behalf of others and ensure my own perspective is heard because I’m in the minority. It can be tough, but it&#8217;s important to embrace your uniqueness and understand the value you bring to the table.</p>
<h3>How can the tech and financial industries improve diversity and inclusion?</h3>
<p>Creating pathways for ethnic minorities to enter the workplace is key. Someone from an underrepresented background might not even consider tech as a viable career option, because they don’t see people who look like them in certain roles. So, mentorship, sponsorship programmes and visibility of leaders are fundamental to improving diversity in tech.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s about ensuring people have access to the right information and opportunities. Companies must also actively seek out diverse talent and create an environment where everyone feels included and can thrive. It&#8217;s not just about hiring; it&#8217;s about creating an inclusive hiring and onboarding process, and an open culture that makes people feel empowered and supported in their journey.</p>
<h3>How do you foster diversity and inclusion within your team?</h3>
<p>I always try to lead by example. I&#8217;m fortunate to work in a team that genuinely cares about <a href="https://www.mindtheproduct.com/building-diverse-products-a-conversation-with-annie-jean-baptiste-product-leader-at-google/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diversity</a> and inclusion. We have open conversations about it, and I encourage team members to bring their whole selves to work. It&#8217;s important to create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their experiences and perspectives. Also, being aware of unconscious bias and actively working to mitigate it is crucial. It&#8217;s an ongoing process, but creating a culture of openness and inclusion is at the heart of it.</p>
<h3>What advice do you have for aspiring product leaders?</h3>
<p>Be open to opportunities, and don’t be afraid to try new things. Sometimes, you might not know exactly what you want to do, but being open to different experiences can lead you to discover your passion. Networking is also crucial; don&#8217;t be afraid to reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and build your network, you would be surprised how many product people are available for a quick 15-minute chat. Lastly, continuous learning is key. The product management field is always evolving, so staying curious and up-to-date with industry trends will set you apart.</p>
<h3>What&#8217;s one piece of advice you wish you had received when you were starting your product career?</h3>
<p>I wish someone had told me not to be too hard on myself. It&#8217;s easy to feel like you must have everything figured out, especially early in your career. But it&#8217;s okay not to know everything.</p>
<p>Embrace the learning process, and don&#8217;t be afraid to ask for help. Also, trust your instincts; you have unique perspectives and strengths that can contribute a lot to your work. Be kind to yourself.</p>
<h3>Access more great content on Mind the Product</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mindtheproduct.com/career-clinic-for-product-managers-by-john-cutler/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Career clinic for product managers by John Cutler</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mindtheproduct.com/laid-off-the-realities-of-finding-your-next-product-management-job/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Laid off? The realities of finding your next product management job</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mindtheproduct.com/black-history-month-a-spotlight-on-black-product-leaders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black History Month: A spotlight on black product leaders</a></li>
</ul>

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Growing financial products and fostering diversity at Barclays with Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy

Growing financial products and fostering diversity at Barclays with Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy

Louron Pratt

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