Key Findings
- 1Most product strategies fail not because of poor execution, but because they were never really strategies to begin with. They were wish lists disguised as plans.
Overview
Most product strategies fail not because of poor execution, but because they were never really strategies to begin with. They were wish lists disguised as plans.
In my years of working with product teams across banking, fintech, and digital commerce, I've seen the same pattern repeat itself. A team gathers in a room, writes down a list of features they want to build, assigns timelines, and calls it a strategy. Six months later, they're wondering why nothing moved the needle.
"A team gathers in a room, writes down a list of features they want to build, assigns timelines, and calls it a strategy."
57% of Sub-Saharan African adults remain unbanked — representing the world's largest financial inclusion opportunity.
Mobile-first fintech platforms are uniquely positioned to capture this 350M+ person market.
The Core Problem
A real product strategy requires making hard choices. It means saying no to things that feel important. It means identifying the one or two leverage points that will create disproportionate value – and then organising everything around those points.
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