In the tech world, people often focus on just one area. But Oluwagbemisola “Gbemisola” Taiwo stands out for doing much more. She works with the UK government to build smart and helpful digital services, using the same skills she once used to create financial tools for farmers in Nigeria who didn’t have access to banks.
Gbemisola knows how to manage tech projects and work with different people to get things done. But what really makes her special is how she uses technology to create opportunities for others, especially women. She has helped thousands of women start careers in tech and has built tools that remove barriers for people who are often left out.
Gbemisola is more than just a Product Leader. She builds tech systems that include everyone, connects different parts of the world, and shows how powerful it is when technology is used to solve real problems. From the busy streets of Lagos to the UK’s public digital services, her story is a great example of leading with both skill and heart.
Foundations Forged in Code and Community
Gbemisola’s story begins with a foundation built on academic excellence and an early affinity for technology’s problem-solving potential. Her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the prestigious University of Lagos provided the bedrock – an understanding of the machines, the logic, and the code that underpins the digital age. Yet, even then, her perspective extended beyond the screen. This foundational knowledge wasn’t pursued in isolation; it was acquired with an implicit understanding of its potential application in the vibrant, complex context of Nigeria and beyond.
Complementing her technical degree, she proactively sought certifications that signaled strategic thinking and leadership: the Utiva Product Certification, and the rigorous BCS Level 4 Certificate in IT by 2020. These weren’t just resume lines; they were deliberate steps to equip herself with the frameworks necessary to translate technical capability into tangible product outcomes and team leadership.
Launchpad – AgriTech and Financial Inclusion in Nigeria
Gbemisola’s professional journey began at AgroMall Discovery and Extension, a Nigerian pioneer in digitising agricultural support and finance. As a Product Manager thrust into a critical space – connecting smallholder farmers to markets and financial services she immediately demonstrated a rare blend of pragmatism and vision.
Her first major feat set the tone: scoping, designing, executing, and launching a significant product for less than $4,000. This wasn’t just cost-effective; it was a proof-of-concept that impactful digital solutions didn’t require exorbitant budgets, especially in resource-constrained environments. The product? A comprehensive Management Information System (Mobile and Web Application) that achieved the monumental task of capturing over 1 million Know-Your-Customer (KYC) records of Nigerian farmers. This wasn’t merely data collection; it was the key to unlocking financial inclusion. By formalizing the identities of these previously “invisible” farmers, the system became a powerful tool for financial institutions to assess risk and extend credit, directly contributing to revenue growth and economic stability for smallholders.
Simultaneously, Gbemisola led the design and deployment of a digital wallet system for unbanked smallholder farmers. This initiative was made possible by a $1M grant from the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) Innovation Fund, which champions digital inclusion, sustainability, and responsible tech across the mobile industry. Gbemisola played a pivotal role in securing this grant for the organisation and successfully delivering the project, scaling smart agriculture solutions for vulnerable communities. This project wasn’t just about transactions; it was about economic empowerment at the grassroots.
Furthermore, she spearheaded ADAP©, working intensively with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, agronomists, and product specialists. A core tenet of ADAP© was ensuring inclusivity, particularly focusing on optimizing impact for women farmers who often face disproportionate barriers. Her exceptional contribution during this intense period of innovation and delivery earned her a Staff Award in 2021, recognizing her as an invaluable team member. This formative experience cemented her belief in technology as a lever for social equity and financial access.
Securing the Digital Frontier – African FinTech Leadership
Gbemisola’s proven ability to deliver complex, high-impact solutions led her to NowNow Digital Systems, a leading African B2B and B2C FinTech company. Here, as Product Manager, she tackled a different but equally critical frontier: security and seamless integration in the rapidly expanding African digital payments landscape.
Her impact was immediate and profound. She conceived and implemented a comprehensive fraud reduction strategy that achieved a staggering 93% reduction in fraud penetration. This wasn’t just a technical win; it was essential for building user trust and ensuring the sustainability of digital financial services in a region often targeted by financial crime. Concurrently, she led the high-stakes launch of the NowNow Debit Mastercard, overseeing the entire product lifecycle from initial concept through to successful execution in the market. This involved launching both virtual and physical cards seamlessly integrated into the NowNow consumer and agent applications.
A critical element of this success was her drive to ensure flawless integration between the card systems, mobile wallets, and Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals. This complex technical orchestration resulted in easy, secure, and accessible payment solutions for a broad user base. Recognizing that merchants were key to adoption, she managed the development of a sophisticated merchant portal.
This platform empowered merchants and agents to buy and sell products seamlessly within the NowNow ecosystem, fostering a more vibrant digital marketplace. To enhance efficiency further, she integrated critical features like real-time transaction tracking, automated payment reconciliation, and inventory management tools directly into the merchant experience. Her role extended beyond product build; she actively trained financial agents on effectively utilizing these new tools, empowering them to become drivers of financial inclusion within their local communities. Her collaboration with marketing, customer success, and other product teams ensured enhancements were driven by genuine customer demand.
Mastering Scale and Strategy – UK Enterprise & Academic Ascent
Seeking to deepen her strategic acumen and broaden her horizons, Gbemisola embarked on a pivotal chapter: pursuing a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Information Technology Management at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK. This wasn’t a step away from industry but a deliberate investment in scaling her impact. She graduated in 2023 with Distinction, a testament to her intellectual rigour. The program equipped her with advanced expertise in technology leadership, digital strategy formulation, user adoption methodologies, and strategic technology acquisition skills explicitly designed to bridge business objectives with robust, scalable technical solutions.
This academic advancement seamlessly transitioned into her next professional role at Wolseley UK, the nation’s leading distributor of plumbing, heating, climate control, pipe, infrastructure, and utility products. As a Product Manager within this established enterprise, Gbemisola
demonstrated her versatility. She drove significant growth in the market share of Wolseley’s API product. This wasn’t accidental; it resulted from her meticulous investigation of opportunities within competitive markets and her hands-on leadership in developing and enhancing the API itself.
Her efforts directly contributed to a 30% expansion in the merchant business segment.
Gbemisola also took full ownership of the product roadmap. Her proactive approach to identifying and mitigating potential engineering roadblocks was instrumental in achieving an impressive 96% on-time delivery rate for all planned features. Crucially, she fostered deep collaboration across IT, marketing, product, and customer success teams. By systematically understanding evolving customer demands and prioritizing roadmap enhancements based on this insight, she achieved a 35% improvement in release efficiency, demonstrating her mastery of complex stakeholder alignment and execution within a large organization.
Transforming Public Service – Digital Accessibility at the UK’s Core
Gbemisola’s unique blend of technical depth, strategic vision, and proven social impact led her to her current role: Senior Product Manager at DWP Digital, the technology arm of the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions. Here, she applies her skills to one of the most critical and challenging domains: transforming essential public services for millions of citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.
Her work digitizing the ‘Access to Work’ claims journey stands as a landmark achievement. She transformed a cumbersome, paper-based process into a fully digital experience, fundamentally altering how individuals with health conditions or disabilities access vital government grants to support their employment. The results speak volumes:
- A 25% increase in the number of people with health conditions successfully accessing ‘Access to Work’ grants directly translates to greater independence and opportunity.
- A 20% reduction in the average time taken to process an application, alleviating stress and uncertainty for applicants.
- A fundamental restructuring of the application process to gather detailed information upfront. This innovation significantly reduced the need for time-consuming follow-up requests from case managers, allowing them to assess cases more efficiently.
Gbemisola’s leadership extended to spearheading a comprehensive discovery phase. She meticulously gathered insights from users, case managers, and employers, ensuring the redesigned system genuinely met the diverse needs of all stakeholders. Her ability to translate these insights into compelling, user-oriented roadmaps and strategic recommendations was pivotal. It convinced senior management and government stakeholders of the initiative’s value, securing crucial funding commitments extending through 2027.
Her work involved close collaboration with designers and digital experts to craft an intuitive application interface. This streamlined the entire claims process, empowering users to submit claims, upload necessary receipts, and track progress digitally, a stark contrast to the previous analogue hurdles. She also led the development and rigorous testing of a new claims portal, employing pilot tests with real users and iterating based on their invaluable feedback. Leading a 25-member cross-functional team, Gbemisola instilled a culture of user-centricity, data-driven decision making, and agile methodologies, ensuring the complex project delivered tangible benefits for citizens.
Beyond the Product – Mentorship, Advocacy, and Thought Leadership
Gbemisola’s influence extends far beyond the specific products she builds. She embodies a profound commitment to paying it forward and shaping the future of the tech industry. Her mentorship is active and impactful:
- Mentor, The Mentoring Club (2024-Present): Offering career guidance, product strategy advice, and problem-solving support to aspiring product managers from diverse backgrounds.
- Mentor, Visiola Foundation (2023-Present): Supporting African girls and young women from underserved communities by guiding them through various technology fields. Helping mentees explore diverse STEM career paths, develop essential skills, and build confidence to succeed in the evolving tech landscape.
However, her most significant legacy project is the founding of Women in Tech Nigeria (WIT Nigeria). Driven by a fierce belief in representation and access, WIT Nigeria tackles the stark gender gap head-on. Gbemisola recognized the need to equip women with resources, mentorship, and opportunities specifically tailored to thriving in non-coding tech roles – product management, project management, UX/UI design, data analysis, and more. Under her leadership:
- She has directly trained and mentored over 600 women, playing an instrumental role in helping them secure their first tech jobs and successfully transition into the industry.
- The community has grown exponentially to over 6,000 members across various platforms, showcasing significant engagement and widespread impact.
- WIT Nigeria provides vital resources, networking opportunities, and a powerful support system, actively challenging stereotypes and proving that “Representation isn’t charity; it’s a competitive advantage.”
Cementing her status as a leading voice in product management, Gbemisola authored the groundbreaking book, “The Art of Influence: A Product Manager’s Guide to Stakeholder Buy-In and Alignment“. This work transcends typical technical manuals. It reimagines stakeholder relationships, delving into the human psychology of persuasion and connection essential for successful product leadership. The book has struck a powerful chord:
- Over 9,000 copies were downloaded as of 2024.
- A remarkable 4.9/5.0 average rating.
- Widespread critical and reader praise for its practical, actionable insights and its transformative approach to a core PM challenge.
Global Recognition: Dratech International Innovation Award:
In our latest edition of the DIIA(Dratech International Innovation Award), Oluwagbemisola Taiwo’s transformative leadership earned her the Dratech Leadership in Tech Award 2024, cementing her status as a visionary force in global technology. This prestigious accolade honours executives and individuals who exemplify exceptional leadership, forward-thinking vision, and an unwavering commitment to pushing technological boundaries while driving organizational and industry-wide progress.
Gbemisola’s selection underscored her unique ability to bridge innovation with social impact across continents. The award committee highlighted her work in three pivotal areas:
- Pioneering Inclusive Solutions: From deploying GSMA-funded digital wallets for unbanked Nigerian farmers to revolutionizing the UK’s “Access to Work” claims system, Gbemisola consistently designed technology that prioritizes accessibility and equity.
- Ecosystem Building: Her founding of Women in Tech Nigeria (WIT Nigeria); training 600+ women and growing a 6,000-member community demonstrated scalable leadership in diversifying the industry’s talent pipeline.
- Strategic Foresight: At NowNow Digital Systems and DWP Digital, she spearheaded high-impact initiatives (like the 93% fraud-reduction algorithm and API-driven growth strategies) that blended technical excellence with market-shaping outcomes.
The award also recognized Gbemisola’s book, The Art of Influence, as a catalyst for redefining stakeholder engagement in tech. By translating psychological insights into actionable frameworks, she empowered product leaders globally to align teams and drive change in complex environments.
In her acceptance speech, Gbemisola Taiwo emphasized her core ethos: “True innovation must dismantle barriers, not reinforce them. Tech leadership isn’t about disruption—it’s about ensuring every leap forward lifts others with it.”
This honour places Gbemisola among a cohort of change-makers reshaping technology’s role in society, validating her blueprint for ethical, human-centred digital transformation.
The Taiwo Equation, Expertise, Impact, and the Future
Oluwagbemisola Taiwo stands as a unique force in global technology. Her expertise is multifaceted and deeply validated:
- Technical & Strategic Depth: Proficient in core Product Management methodologies (Agile, Scrum), requirements documentation, market research, competitive analysis, strategic planning, wireframing (Figma, Adobe XD), prototyping, and analytics (Google Analytics, Power BI, SQL). Mastery of industry-standard tools (Prodpad, Miro, Jira, Trello, Mural, Aha).
- Proven Delivery: A consistent track record of conceiving, building, and launching successful digital products that solve real problems from cost-effective MIS in Nigeria to complex public service platforms in the UK. Quantifiable results (93% fraud reduction, 30% API growth, 25% grant access increase, 20% process efficiency gains) are her hallmark.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and align diverse teams of 25+ engineers, designers, analysts, and business stakeholders across multiple continents and industries.
- Stakeholder Mastery: The core thesis of her book, is applied daily to secure buy-in, navigate bureaucracy, and drive strategic initiatives forward.
- Social Impact Architecture: An innate ability to design technology that drives financial inclusion (1M+ farmers banked), empowers marginalized groups (women farmers, people with health conditions), and builds safer ecosystems (fraud reduction).
- Ecosystem Builder: Founding and scaling WIT Nigeria into a major force for gender equity in African tech, coupled with active mentorship and thought leadership.
Conclusion
Oluwagbemisola Taiwo’s career provides documented evidence of how product management transcends technical execution to become a vehicle for systemic change. Her quantifiable contributions; the fraud algorithm reducing financial exclusion, the accessibility framework transforming public services, and the open-source tools elevating industry practice, reveal a consistent pattern: Technical innovation × Ethical intentionality = Scalable equity
In these times, where the tech industry faces intense scrutiny over its ethics, accessibility, and societal impact, Oluwagbemisola Taiwo offers a compelling blueprint for responsible, effective leadership. She demonstrates, unequivocally, that:
- Technology can be a profound force for equity and inclusion when designed with intent (GSMA wallets, Access to Work digitization).
- Commercial success and social good are not mutually exclusive but can be powerfully synergistic (NowNow’s secure growth, AgroMall’s revenue impact via inclusion).
- Authentic stakeholder engagement and empathetic leadership are not soft skills but strategic imperatives (The Art of Influence, Access to Work Funding Success).
- Building diverse talent pipelines is fundamental to innovation and sustainability (Women in Tech Nigeria’s 6,000+ members).
- True expertise transcends borders and sectors, finding common ground in solving human problems through technology.
Gbemisola Taiwo’s story is still being written. From the fields of Nigeria to the digital infrastructure of the UK government, from launching payment cards to authoring an impactful book and building communities of thousands, her trajectory defies simple categorization. She is a technologist, a strategist, an author, a mentor, and an advocate. Above all, Oluwagbemisola Taiwo is a leader proving that the most powerful technology is that which lifts as it scales. Her north star remains clear: “Technology must close gaps—not create them.”
In a world grappling with the unintended consequences of rapid digitalization, her vision and her proven ability to execute it make her not just an EXPERT, but a necessary voice for the future.
