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Destiny Timothy
Destiny Timothy

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From Developer to Product Manager (But I Still Love to Code)

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been interested in web development. It’s something I’ve been really passionate about — the fact that you can combine lines of code, mixing JavaScript with HTML and CSS.

The way people do that always felt like a mystery to me, and I was always intrigued.

As life went on, I started falling deeper in love with coding. I moved from making static websites to building low-key full-stack applications. (Low-key because I don’t usually build the backend myself — I typically use Firebase or something similar.)

Some of the most interesting projects I’ve worked on include:

AnonAnon — an anonymous messaging platform I built.

Smash or Pass — basically a platform where you create an account and vote to smash or pass on other people. If you and another person smash on each other… well, you know (very crazy, I know — but I enjoyed building it).

I’ve also made multiple AI chatbots — basically ChatGPT wrappers, if I’m being honest. I’m not even going to lie.

But yeah, I just love building. I love creating.

I’ve also worked with businesses, creating websites and all that good stuff. But at some point in my life, I had to make a decision. I had to choose the path I wanted to permanently go down.

I was also a UI/UX designer. I’ve designed a lot of interfaces, and I genuinely love designing too.

And apart from that, I’m also a people person.

I love being around people.
I love meeting new people.
I love when we talk and build things together.

And low-key… I also liked the corporate life.

Don’t get me wrong — shout out to freelancers everywhere, I love y’all. But something about the structure in a 9 to 5 just appeals to me.

So at that point in my life, I was confused.

Should I be:

A developer?

A UI/UX designer?

Quit everything and chase software roles full-time?

Focus on graphic design instead?

I was genuinely stuck.


Discovering Product Management

Everything changed when I learned about the role of a Product Manager (what felt was magical at the time).

For the first time, I properly researched what product management was. I learned what's involved in the role and everything in between — and I fell in love with it.

It felt like a role made for me.

Not only was I good at the documentation, organization, and the so-called “secretarial” side of things, but I was also a developer. So I wasn’t coming in as a product manager who knew nothing about development.

I could:

Converse with developers

Communicate with designers

Understand the product lifecycle

Because I had lived those experiences.

I’ve been a developer.
I’ve been a designer.
I’ve built platforms.

I understand that people wear multiple hats — but at this point, it became my job to make sure each hat fits the person wearing it.


Where I Am Now

I haven’t been a product manager for the longest time, but I’m very optimistic about what the future holds for me — not just as a product manager, but in tech generally.

Because honestly… tomorrow I might feel like doing something else. Who knows?

But for now, I’m a product manager, and I genuinely love what I’m doing.

One of the biggest reasons I chose product management is this:

I no longer have to be part of only the development process when building a product.

As a product manager, I’m involved from the ground up:

From ideation

To development

To design

To stakeholder meetings

To backlog management

All the way to launch and go-to-market strategy

Being a product manager feels more whole to me.

Feels I’m part of the entire product journey.

And since I love products and I love people… product management just fits.


Final Thoughts

So yeah — that’s it, had to keep this short for your attention span (and not because I'm lazy or anything).

This is my first article on Dev.to. I hope you like it. If you don’t… you might need to work on your taste, because I believe this is amazing 😌

But hey — every creator is a little narcissistic in their own way.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I really hope you enjoyed it.

I’m open to feedback — let me know what you think.

Hope you have an amazing day (or night, wherever you’re reading from).

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