Sweat, Laughter, and Offline Learning: A Product Management Adventure in Rural Africa

Teaching product management is always a rewarding experience, but doing it in a rural African village with no electricity? That’s an adventure. And one hot, hilarious adventure it was.

I had been excited to share my knowledge with a group of eager young minds, but the sweltering heat hit me like a wall when I arrived at the classroom. There were no fans or air conditioning, just a stifling room packed with people. Luckily, I had anticipated this. All my course materials were pre-downloaded onto tablets, ready for an offline lesson.

As I began the class, I tried to lighten the mood with a few jokes – after all, who doesn’t love a good laugh? The students responded with roars of laughter, but it wasn’t long before I realized something was amiss. They were laughing at everything! Every slide, every comment, even my awkward attempts at demonstrating product roadmaps. I was puzzled. Were my jokes that funny? Was I some sort of comedic genius? I basked in the glow of their laughter, feeling a strange mix of pride and confusion

Later that evening, over a much-needed cold drink, I chatted with a local teacher who had helped organize the class. He told me the secret: “They weren’t laughing at your jokes,” he chuckled. “They were laughing at you, sweating like a pig!”

My students were amused by my lack of preparedness for the intense heat. But amidst the laughter, they were also learning. They were engaged, asking insightful questions and absorbing the concepts surprisingly quickly.

My experience in that sweltering classroom taught me a valuable lesson: Sometimes, unexpected challenges can lead to the most rewarding experiences. It’s about the content you deliver and the connection you create. And sometimes, a little self-deprecating humor can go a long way in building that connection.

So, if you ever find yourself teaching product management in a remote village without electricity, don’t sweat it (literally). Embrace the chaos, laugh with your students, and remember that learning can thrive even in the most challenging environments. Join us for some laughs and learning at www.global-impact-innovators.com