michael sarpong:

At the start of the year, I made a quiet decision to track my wins and losses. I wanted something honest I could measure the next year against, a way to make clearer, more grounded decisions as I moved forward.

2025 turned out to be a year of showing up across many roles. I moved between product design and product management and continued building as a co-founder of BuukMeNow . Along the way, I mentored others, spoke at events and wrote more openly about the work and the process. None of these roles existed in isolation. They overlapped, stretched and forced me to grow in ways I didn’t always feel prepared for, but needed.

This recap is my attempt to make sense of the year, what worked, what didn’t and what it taught me. It’s a personal checkpoint, a moment to pause before stepping into what’s next.

So here we go, a recap of my year, 2025.

How the Year Started

The year began slowly. Burnout from the previous year carried into January and I had to acknowledge it instead of trying to power through. It wasn’t an easy place to start from, but it forced me to be more intentional about my energy, pace and expectations. Even with that, we still found ways to show up and get meaningful work done. That became a recurring theme for the year even when it didn’t feel perfect.

Work, Building and Shipping

On the 9–5 front, my team and I shipped a product we had started building the year before. The product, Fixzly , allows users to request phone repair services from the comfort of their location. Shipping it came with its own challenges. I found myself deeply involved in leadership responsibilities, overseeing design decisions, shaping the overall product experience, contributing to go-to-market strategy and staying closely aligned with leadership through frequent check-ins.

While all of this was happening, another project where I served as both Product Manager and UX Engineer was running in parallel. This one pushed the team hard. We had to rebuild an app that had been in development for almost a couple of years and we had just three months to deliver a fully reworked version with an added facelift. It demanded focus, resilience and trust in the team. Looking back, it’s one of the projects I’m most proud of this year and a defining moment in how I approach leadership under pressure.

The Startup Journey

This year was a defining one for BuukMeNow . The growth we experienced, both in momentum and in how the business matured was overwhelming in ways I’m still processing. We hit several milestones that reminded me why we started and further validated the problem we’re solving.

We partnered with Vendor Vault to process our largest transaction so far and were shortlisted to pitch BuukMeNow at the Africa Fintech Summit . In total, the platform has facilitated over 7,000 bookings and supported close to a 100 active service providers receiving bookings. As for the total value processed on the platform keep your eyes on our official page for the announcement.

Interestingly, we barely shipped major new features this year. Most of our effort went into fixing bugs, making small but meaningful improvements and stepping back to focus on strategy. We spent time thinking about scale, increasing active usage, exploring partnerships and collaborations and preparing for fundraising. A lot of the work happened quietly, it included engaging investors, compiling requirements and assessing the business to ensure it’s well-positioned when the right opportunity arrives.

Learning and the Things That Kept Me Going

Learning didn’t only happen through courses and work this year. A lot of it came from quieter places, books, music on repeat and the shows that helped me slow down when my mind needed a break.

I didn’t read much this year, just a single book actually but it mattered. Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug was a full-circle moment for me. It was the very first book my manager shared with me to read before joining as an intern years ago. Coming back to it now felt grounding. I had read it as a soft copy back then but this time I got a physical copy and took my time with it. It reminded me why clarity, simplicity and empathy sit at the heart of good design. If you’re a designer, thinking of becoming one or just need a reset, it’s a book that always delivers.

On the structured learning side, my best investment this year was subscribing to IxDF . Since joining, I completed courses on User Experience for Beginners and Design Thinking both packed with practical frameworks, exercises and workbooks. I’m currently taking a course on AI for Designers which has been pushing me to rethink how design, tooling and decision-making might evolve in the coming years.

I also leaned into product management more intentionally. I took a PM course with Pendo, alongside PMI on building product strategy and product innovation. To round things off, I completed a sustainability-focused course from INCO Academy , which challenged me to think beyond growth and scale and more about responsibility, how products interact with the environment and the long-term impact of the choices we make as builders. Altogether, these experiences reshaped how I think about product ideation, development, marketing, scaling and sustainability as a connected system.

Outside of work and learning, music carried a lot of weight this year. My top song was HOROSCOPE by Jon Bellion from the FATHER FIGURE album with 58 plays, which also ended up being my top album of the year. My top artist was J. Cole , which didn’t surprise me at all, even though he didn’t drop an album this year I still rode with him.

When it came to TV, Slow Horses stood out as the best show I watched all year. A big part of that was Jackson Lamb. His sarcasm, dry humor and layered jokes hit differently. There’s something compelling about a character who doesn’t try too hard, says less than everyone else, yet somehow always gets it right. Beneath the mess and the insults is deep experience, sharp judgment and an understanding of how things really work.

All of these books, courses, music and film played their own role in shaping the year. Some sharpened my thinking, others helped me rest, together, they all kept me balanced.

Speaking and Community

Midway through the year, I made a tough personal decision to put myself out there. Friends had nudged me for a long time to show my work and speak up, but I kept postponing it. Eventually, I realised that if we were already building in public with our product, it made sense to add my voice to the process.

That decision opened new doors. I gave my first-ever talk at the University of Cape Coast during the Design Your Greatness campus tour, an experience I’ll always remember. I also spoke several times within the IxDF Accra community. Through these moments, I met incredible people and formed meaningful connections. Being part of a movement that creates space and opportunity for others especially those who didn’t have it early in their careers is something I’m deeply proud of.

Writing and Sharing My Thoughts

This year, I started writing more intentionally and it’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done. I published eight articles across Medium and LinkedIn , sharing thoughts that had lived in my head for a long time.

Many more pieces are still sitting quietly in my drafts, with no immediate plans to see the internet. I’ve come to accept that this is part of the process. Some days you feel unsure and hold back. Other days you feel confident enough to share freely and both states are valid.

Travel and Perspective

I took 3 trips and 8 flights this year, 2 international and 1 local and each came with its own lessons.

Germany was a long-awaited family visit and I took the opportunity to spend time moving around Berlin. Though it wasn’t my first rodeo, this time I experienced the city with a new set of eyes and ears. I moved slower, paid closer attention and allowed myself to observe without trying to make sense of everything immediately. Some of what I picked up during that trip I’ll share in time; other parts are lessons I’m still holding onto.

Cape Coast was tied to the Design Your Greatness campus tour and the road trip there reminded me how much I enjoy traveling by road.

Then there was Malta, a business trip that came with new insights, opportunities and meaningful connections. One of those trips that stays with you long after you’re back and hopefully the first of many more like it.

The Hard Moments

The year wasn’t without its challenges. There were periods of burnout, moments of self-doubt and unexpected turns along the way. Balancing work, personal life and social commitments wasn’t always easy. Still, when I look back, I’m grateful for the strength to keep going, for the people around me and for the lessons altogether.

Looking Ahead

If this year taught me anything, it’s the power of consistency. Showing up every day even on days you don’t feel like, it moves the needle in ways you don’t always see immediately. Starting matters, you’ll never truly know unless you take the step and figure things out as you go.

Networking was another lesson I’m proud of embracing. Choosing to show up led me to meet incredible people in just few months.

As I move into the next year, my focus is simple. Continue what’s working, improve where I fell short, learn from the lessons and do better. I’m thankful for life, growth, meaningful connections and the journey so far.

See you next year and happy new year in advance.