“We strive for things to work a 100% percent of the time at Flutterwave." - Lizanne

Summary

Luzan, VP of Products at Flutterwave, shares her journey into fintech and the creative challenges within the industry. Having transitioned from a large payment network to Flutterwave, she highlights the significance of solving consumer and business problems related to seamless money movement. Luzan emphasizes collaboration, particularly between product design and engineering, in achieving success. She discusses her balanced approach to work and personal life, which includes family and passion-driven career goals. With a focus on delivering intuitive, reliable products, Flutterwave aims to provide exceptional customer experiences across Africa.

Takeaways

• 😀 Luzan, VP of Products at Flutterwave, is currently in Lagos, Nigeria, for a series of meetings and planning sessions with colleagues and external partners.
• 😀 Luzan had her first experience with Jollof rice and is looking forward to exploring more local delicacies.
• 😀 She started her career in fintech after being introduced to the community while working at a large payment network in the region.
• 😀 She transitioned to Flutterwave to be more involved in creating innovative solutions for moving money seamlessly in the sub-Saharan African region.
• 😀 As a product person, Luzan focuses on optimizing internal processes, solving customer experience challenges, and being creative with minimal resource use.
• 😀 Product management for Luzan is a dynamic role where she handles various challenges across multiple areas, making the career very exciting and fulfilling.
• 😀 Luzan has learned to balance her work and personal life effectively, raising two boys while staying passionate about her career.
• 😀 Her day starts with a morning run, helping her clear her head and prepare for the day’s tasks, followed by team check-ins and focused work in the evening.
• 😀 Luzan advises aspiring professionals to focus on collaboration, openness to new ideas, and integration of diverse perspectives in the tech industry.
• 😀 Collaboration between product, design, and engineering is crucial to success at Flutterwave, and they are working towards enhancing this collaboration.
• 😀 The product team's mission at Flutterwave is to deliver meaningful solutions that improve the customer experience, with a focus on seamless onboarding, intuitive usage, and reliability.

Q & A

What inspired Luzan to transition into the fintech space?

Luzan was fascinated by the creativity in solving everyday challenges through fintech, especially in the sub-Saharan African region. She wanted to be part of the innovation and move beyond working in a larger, more established organization.

What is the main goal of the product team at Flutterwave?

The product team's mission at Flutterwave is to build and deliver meaningful products that provide valuable solutions for consumers and merchants, enhancing the customer experience.

How does Luzan balance her personal life with her professional commitments?

Luzan integrates work and personal life effectively by doing something she loves every day, making it feel like a passion rather than work. This balance has allowed her to raise two boys while staying committed to her career.

How does Luzan start her typical workday?

Luzan begins her day with a morning run to clear her head and organize her thoughts. She uses this time to set intentions for the day and week, followed by checking in with her team and attending various meetings.

What role does collaboration play at Flutterwave?

Collaboration is fundamental at Flutterwave, particularly between product, design, and engineering teams. Luzan emphasizes the importance of listening to different perspectives and integrating them into the daily work to drive success.

How does Luzan approach problem-solving in her role as VP of Product?

Luzan thinks creatively about the competitive landscape, optimizing internal processes, and finding solutions to challenges related to customer experience and processes. She strives to achieve this with minimal resource impact.

What does Luzan value most in her career as a product person?

Luzan values the opportunity to think about multiple aspects of a product—ranging from customer experience to internal processes—and finds excitement in being involved in creative problem-solving across various challenges.

How does Luzan ensure focus on deep work during her day?

Luzan carves out time in the late evening to focus on deep work, where she reviews projects, assesses capabilities or features under evaluation, and helps her team make cases for taking projects forward, focusing on revenue opportunities.

What is the importance of the engineering team in product development at Flutterwave?

The engineering team is a crucial component at Flutterwave, ensuring the successful delivery and shipment of products to the market. Luzan acknowledges the strong collaboration between product, design, and engineering teams.

What expectations does Flutterwave have for its customers?

Flutterwave aims to provide seamless onboarding, intuitive product usage, and flawless performance. The company strives for products that work perfectly for its customers all the time, ensuring high-quality experiences.