Adaobi Okerekeocha

Product Leader
Lagos, NG.

About

Adaobi Okerekeocha is a dynamic Product Leader with over 15 years of proven experience in tech-enablement, driving growth and innovation across diverse industries including Financial Services, Transportation, and Energy. She excels in strategic product development, team leadership, and delivering customer-focused solutions, consistently leveraging deep expertise to optimize product processes and align innovation with business goals for sustainable success in dynamic markets.

Work

Interswitch Group
|

Chief Innovation Officer

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Summary

Led the establishment and operation of Interswitch's first Innovation Lab, spearheading next-generation product development and optimizing innovation processes across the group.

Highlights

Established Interswitch's inaugural Innovation Lab, driving focused product development for next-generation solutions in Embedded Systems, IoT, and AI.

Delivered 5 Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) within 18 months across Transport, E-commerce, and Energy sectors.

Managed and optimized the Group's innovation process, ensuring synergies in product development efforts across subsidiaries.

Quidax Crypto Exchange
|

Director of Product (Fractional)

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Summary

Established and optimized the Product Organization, driving significant growth in wallet funding and user acquisition through strategic product development.

Highlights

Developed and launched a Voucher Payment System, increasing Wallet Funding by 30% and crypto trading orders by 6%.

Revamped the B2C Mobile App, achieving 15% month-on-month signup growth and reducing user onboarding time by 20%.

Established the Product Organization, including team, processes, and tools, ensuring alignment with the Engineering Organization.

Microsoft
|

Sr. Technical Program Manager

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Summary

Spearheaded the development and launch of a critical API Compliance Tool, ensuring regulatory adherence and operational efficiency for Windows OS.

Highlights

Reduced Windows OS API Compliance attestation turnaround time by 40% by leading a cross-functional team (UX, Engineers) to build a Compliance Tool.

Ensured Microsoft met Antitrust and Interoperability Obligations more efficiently through the developed compliance tool.

Designed and drove the Program Management strategy for Windows OS compliance with the European Commission's Digital Markets Acts.

Interswitch Group
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Group Head of Products, Digital Payments & API Marketplace

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Summary

Led product strategy and execution for digital payments and API marketplace, significantly expanding merchant base and transaction revenue.

Highlights

Doubled merchant base by developing a platform to automate merchant acquisition across new segments, simplifying onboarding and activation.

Grew Payment Gateway transaction revenue by 8% by launching additional payment methods and improving success rates.

Achieved 250% increase in Agent Banking Transaction revenue by leading a team to improve the Transfer Service Platform.

Interswitch Group
|

Head of Products, Shared Platforms

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Summary

Oversaw product development for shared platforms, driving significant improvements in Quickteller success rates and financial inclusion revenue.

Highlights

Increased Quickteller success rate by 10%, reducing customer support tickets by 30% and recovering N156 Million in annualized costs.

Grew revenue for the Financial Inclusion Business Subsidiary by 300% ($2.2 Million) by developing the first viable Agency Banking Cashout Product.

Increased Go-to-Market cycle time by 5% across internal product teams by developing core/shared/reusable components.

Interswitch Group
|

Head, Service Delivery and Operations

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Summary

Established the Product Implementation Function and led operational improvements, significantly reducing costs and enhancing customer trust.

Highlights

Pioneered the setup of the Product Implementation Function and Processes, managing a team handling over 15,000 integration projects.

Championed operational and process improvements, including a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Project, optimizing Settlement systems.

Realized N20 Million in annualized cost savings and renewed customer trust through process re-engineering.

Interswitch Group
|

Software Engineer, Payments and Value Added Services

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Summary

Developed key payment and value-added services platforms, enhancing efficiency and security for nationwide banking operations.

Highlights

Developed the Enterprise Bill Payment Platform (PAYDirect) for nationwide biller management and payment collections across all bank branches.

Created an in-house Transaction Monitoring Tool to increase efficiency of tracking transaction processing for cash flow products.

Developed critical software solutions including SmartPIN Security feature, RetailPAY Dealer Management System, and Airtime Virtual Top Up Platform.

HITWorks
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Developer Trainee

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Summary

Gained foundational experience in IT training and software development.

Highlights

Completed intensive IT training, building foundational knowledge in software development principles and practices.

Contributed to early-stage software development projects, gaining practical experience in coding and testing.

Education

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

MBA

Finance & Investment

Grade: 4.54/5.0

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife
Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

BSc

Computer Science

Grade: 4.41/5.0

Certificates

Product Strategy

Issued By

Kellogg School of Management

Digital Transformation: Platforms

Issued By

MIT School of Management

Executive MBA Program

Issued By

Metropolitan School of Business

Skills

Product Management & Strategy

Product Strategy, Product Leadership, Innovation Management, Product Development Lifecycle, Go-to-Market Strategy, Product Roadmapping, User Experience Design (UXD), Customer Success, Business Model Innovation, Digital Product Transformation, Electronic Payments.

Technical & Data Expertise

Software Engineering, Data Analytics, Database Administration, Blockchain Technology, Embedded Systems, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), API Development, System Architecture, Technical Program Management.

Project & Operations Management

Agile Methodologies, Scrum, Kanban, Project Management, IT Service Management (ITSM), Process Re-engineering, Lean Six Sigma, Operational Efficiency, Team Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Compliance Management.

Leadership & Business Acumen

Team Leadership, People Development, Cross-functional Leadership, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Financial Analysis, Market Research, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Design Thinking, Lateral Thinking, Centralized Finance.

Industry Expertise

Financial Services, Digital Payments, API Marketplace, E-commerce, Transportation Sector, Energy Sector, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Generative AI in Cinema, Regulatory Compliance.

Certifications

PRINCE2 Practitioner, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, SAFE Certified, ITIL Certified, TOGAF9 Certified, Reforge, IxDF.

Projects

Naija 'AI' Film Festival

Summary

Co-founded a pioneering initiative at the forefront of Africa's Generative Cinema Industry.

The Product Ninjas

Summary

A community initiative focused on empowering product professionals through coaching, mentoring, and community building.