Yvonne Ogwulu, a product designer at Bitmama discloses why she’s proud of working at Bitmama Inc. and why she’d choose the company over other blockchain companies in this exclusive interview.
You studied Electronics Engineering in school, how did you make the pivot into tech?
My tech career started in my final year when I was studying Electronics Engineering. I got into Electronic Engineering because of my love for computers. I liked computers before I got into university and I would always be in front of my Dad’s desktop designing small cards with Microsoft. I had no idea what tech was at that moment. All I knew was I wanted to get involved with learning more about computers. My mother helped me make the decision to go into electronics engineering and I am glad she did. I was quite clueless during the five years I spent in university. I finally found my purpose in my fifth and final year of university. I discovered my love for design and software engineering through my friends who guided me.
You are a product designer and also an Author, that’s amazing! How do you manage these diverse versions of you?
I started writing when I was a young girl and I was obsessed with it. I wrote about fifteen novels in my childhood. With time, the novel writing slowed down because it was taking over my life. I really do not know how to explain how I’m able to manage these diverse sides of myself but I just do it because of passion.
My latest book was written before I turned 25. That goal was a part of my bucket list. The book is nonfiction and it mentions 25 things I learnt in my 25 years of living. I was used to writing fiction novels and writing this nonfiction book was very hard for me. I also self published and designed the book myself which was extra difficult. Something people might not know about me is that I also had a blog when I was in my third year of university. It was called the Inkspire Diary. It was used to inspire my peers and give hope to young girls like me.
Tell us something we don’t know about Product Design.
People think Product Design is easy. Because they hear the word design and they feel like design is putting shapes together and that is not totally true. Product design really focuses on translating ideas into screens that people use. Product design is different because it’s about the users. Actual people use it and that translates into how we product designers think. We have to think of every part of the user’s process. It’s a lot of decision making and constant improvement. That is what makes the job interesting.
Why Fintech? Did it choose you or you chose it?
In 2021, I had only worked on basic websites and I also worked with a few startups that were not fintech. At first I started shying away from crypto companies because I knew nothing about it at the time. I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to manage in the world of crypto but I am the type of person to challenge myself in everything I do and that’s what I did. I have worked for Bitmama for 4 months now and I love it. I love what Bitmama is doing in terms of promoting crypto beyond trading. That’s part of the reason I chose Fintech.
How has working at Bitmama influenced your career?
Working at Bitmama makes me feel proud. It has influenced my career in positive ways. A few of my peers have made comments about how they had applied for a position at Bitmama and were not successful. I also love that Bitmama has structure and in comparison to my previous jobs. The peace I feel at Bitmama can’t be compared. The people here are also lovely. In my career, working for Bitmama has stretched me. This is my first time designing for a crypto company and it has positively impacted my design experience, my CV and it has given me leverage in my future endeavors.
What’s your favorite work memory?
My favorite work memory at Bitmama has to be when my boss, Buhari, saw what I designed and was proud. My boss is usually a hard guy so seeing that side of him was comforting and shocking. He’s very cool.
How do you like working remotely?
I love working remotely at Bitmama but I do wish I could meet my colleagues sometimes. I like working remotely because it helps me be more productive. I have bonded with my teammates and I am looking forward to a hybrid setup.
Why Bitmama? What interested you to apply and work here?
I like what Bitmama is doing. Before I applied, I did my research and I was really impressed. I would have chosen Bitmama over any other blockchain company. I had previously seen Ruth at an event where she was interviewed. I was intrigued, little did I know that soon enough I will be working in her company. I also love the fact that Bitmama is very innovative and we’re always looking for new ways to do things. On a scale of 1-10 I would recommend Bitmama as a whooping 9.5 for someone looking to work here. I will definitely encourage people to apply. I only gave Bitmama a 9.5 because people say you’re not meant to give a perfect score.
What advice would you give to product designers finding the craft challenging?
Don’t skip a process at all, go through every single process and learn from it. I went through several processes on my journey. I accepted free gigs just so I could gain experience. I would also say you should practice a lot and be ready for the hard work. With all this said, the end result is very fulfilling, so enjoy your journey.
As a woman in tech, how are you inspiring the next generation of women?
I am in the process of registering my NGO for women in tech. It will be for high school and tertiary female students who are interested in entering the tech industry. I am doing this because personally I wish I had a mentor when I was younger. I want to be the mentor for young girls who have no clue how to start or where to start. Hopefully this should be up and running by the end of this year.
Are you interested in working at Bitmama? Read other Bitstars talk about their experiences about what’s exciting about working at Bitmama and how Bitmama has a unique undertone in the blockchain industry. You can also check out our career page for current openings here . You too can be like Yvonne Ogwulu, start from being a part of the Bitmama family by downloading our app on iOS or Android.
