Zando | Retail Fashion

As the first product manager on the team, I played a key role in shaping how the product functioned within the broader business. Zando was just nine months old when I joined, but it had already scaled to 300 employees. The company was moving fast, and our product roadmap had to balance local business needs with Rocket Internet’s global goals.

Key Focus Areas:

• Conversion Optimization – Improved the website’s conversion rates through better user flows, tracking, and testing.
• Website Expansion – Extended platform capabilities to better support merchandising and operational efficiency.
• Operational Improvements – Worked on returns and cost-saving initiatives to help streamline internal processes.
• Mobile Experience – The mobile website was nearly unusable when I joined. I worked with the team to turn it into a fully functional experience.

Challenges & Solutions:

• Scaling a Startup – We had to build structured product processes while operating at the speed of a fast-growing startup.
• Rotating Team Members – Many team members interned from Germany and left on short notice, requiring adaptable workflows.
• Establishing Processes – The team previously worked off a to-do list with no formal tooling. I introduced structured roadmaps, tracking, and workflows to improve execution.

Team & Leadership:

I managed business analysts, designers, junior product managers, and worked closely with engineering leadership. Our cross-functional team included developers, analysts, and designers, all working together to scale Zando’s platform.