KEY POINTS

• Shehu Lawal scaled Uber Nigeria and led product growth at Andela.
• He co-founded Balance Bowl, later acquired by Pocket Foods.
• He mentors and drives innovation in fintech, edtech, and SaaS.

Shehu Lawal’s career is an inspiring story of how versatility, strategic insight, and a passion for technology can lead to ground-breaking achievements.

As one of Nigeria’s prominent voices in product leadership, Shehu has consistently driven innovation across sectors such as Fintech, Health Tech, EdTech, and beyond.

It all started with a chance encounter at a tech conference, where the greenhorn was captivated by the stories of entrepreneurs building innovative start-ups.

Determined to carve his path, Shehu set out to hone his software engineering skills. His journey into the tech world began at Uber Nigeria, where he joined as one of the company’s first employees in the region.

Tasked with validating Uber’s product in an emerging market, Shehu tackled challenges such as low internet penetration and educated a growing driver network.

His work not only set the stage for Uber’s success in Nigeria but also provided him with a deep understanding of user-focused design and operational excellence. These early lessons in problem-solving and adaptability laid the foundation for his future in product leadership.

At Afritickets, a struggling events platform at the time, Shehu’s unbelievable drive revived the team and the business. He stepped beyond operations to spearhead strategic partnerships and enhance customer engagement.

He successfully integrated the platform with leading Nigerian banks, boosting revenue and positioning Afritickets as a leader in ticketing solutions.

This role allowed him to refine his skills in cross-functional collaboration and scalable business strategy, further cementing his reputation as a forward-thinking leader.

Afritickets’ eventual acquisition by fintech unicorn Flutterwave underscored the lasting impact of his contributions, reflecting Shehu’s knack for positioning businesses for sustainable growth.

By 2020, Shehu was at Andela and his tenure at the unicorn startup marked a significant milestone in his career. As a Partner Engineering Manager, he oversaw the rapid expansion of Andela’s largest accounts, including Mindshare, Goldman Sachs, and IBM.

Under his guidance, teams grew from 4 to over 180 engineers across 15+ countries, and monthly recurring revenue peaked at $4 million, contributing to an annual recurring revenue of nearly $50 million.

Shehu also developed innovative frameworks for talent matching and operational delivery, ensuring efficiency and scalability as Andela expanded globally. His work at Andela exemplified his ability to drive impact at scale, earning him recognition as a transformative leader in tech.

After years of working as a high-performance leader for technology companies, Shehu ventures into entrepreneurship as co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Balance Bowl, a digital health and wellness platform, Shehu took on the challenge of building a product that prioritized user experience while driving market growth.

Despite industry hurdles, Balance Bowl thrived under his leadership, leading to its acquisition by Pocket Foods in 2023. Post-acquisition, Shehu remained involved as a strategic advisor, contributing to the company’s expansion and the launch of a B2B meal delivery application.

Shehu’s entrepreneurial pursuit was short-lived and he was back to contributing to established companies. He had a brief stint at leading insurtech Casava where he worked closely with C-level executives to design and launch innovative insurance products, securing partnerships with major players like MTN and AXA Mansard.

These collaborations resulted in a monthly acquisition of 75,000 active users. Shehu’s success at Andela and Casava caught the attention of industry leaders, and soon Shehu found himself at the doorstep of another prestigious opportunity – a role at Goldman Sachs.

“The move to Goldman Sachs was a chance to further expand my horizons,” Shehu says. “While the corporate environment was a stark contrast to the startup world, I saw it as an opportunity to learn from a global financial powerhouse and apply my product management expertise in a new context.”

At Goldman Sachs, Shehu’s focus on ESG Data Analytics deepened his understanding of sustainability and data-driven decision-making. Although brief, this role broadened his perspective on global product strategy and corporate operations.

Currently, Shehu serves as Acting Co-Founder and Consultant at MYGEECS, a SaaS platform simplifying the journey for students seeking international education. Shehu leads product and technology strategies, enhances the platform’s data infrastructure, and ensures seamless user experiences.

Set to launch officially in December 2024, MYGEECS represents another ambitious milestone in Shehu’s career as he continues to innovate in the EdTech space.

Beyond his professional roles, Shehu has remained deeply committed to giving back to the tech community. He played a key role in the CodeLagos initiative, which trained over 100,000 youths in coding and digital skills.

As a mentor with ALX Ventures, ADPList, and other organizations, he has guided startups and aspiring product managers across Africa. Through TeenCode Africa and similar programs, Shehu has inspired thousands of young Africans to pursue careers in technology.

Shehu Lawal’s career reflects a consistent drive to solve meaningful problems, empower teams, and create lasting impact.

Whether navigating the complexities of startup growth, mentoring the next generation of tech leaders, or scaling global operations, Shehu continues to shape the future of product leadership with determination and vision.