Simplifying System Design for Non-Technical Product Managers
System design doesn’t have to feel like “engineer-only language.” In this session, Sophia Abuakar, Software Engineer & Technical PM, breaks down system design + software architecture basics in a way non-technical PMs (and anyone building software) can actually use — not to become system designers, but to build technical fluency and make better product decisions.
You’ll learn how to think about features like an engineer without talking like one:
— client–server architecture (what’s really happening behind “will this work offline?”)
— databases (relational vs non-relational) + what questions to ask early
— APIs, caching, scalability, load balancing, reliability, and security
— ACID transactions (why it matters for fintech + critical systems)
— how system design ties into your documentation stack (PRD → TRD/TDD, API specs, DB schema, architecture diagrams)
If you’re building software and you want to scope better, estimate smarter, communicate clearly with engineers, and spot risks earlier, this is for you.
Chapters:
00:00 - Audio check + session setup (how Q&A will work)
01:40 - What this session covers: simplifying system design for non-technical PMs
05:04 - Why system design matters: credibility, scoping, and better product decisions
15:49 - Client–server architecture (restaurant analogy + what “offline” really implies)
19:11 - Databases explained: what they store and why PMs should care
21:28 - Relational vs non-relational databases (examples + when to use each)
27:01 - APIs and integrations (what “API” means in real product work)
29:19 - Caching basics (speed vs freshness trade-offs)
32:10 - Scalability: vertical vs horizontal scaling (simple analogy)
34:55 - Reliability + security layers (uptime, auth, encryption, risk thinking)
35:56 - ACID transactions (why it’s critical for fintech + “no in-between” rules)
40:14 - System design + documentation flow (PRD → TRD/TDD, API specs, DB schema, diagrams)
56:11 - Q&A starts + program invite / next steps
For a more detailed course in System Design and Other technical aspects of product management, check out these courses on Treford:
Technical Product Management Fundamentals (Self-paced) - https://treford.africa/product/techni...
Technical Product Management Program (Live) - Enrol https://treford.africa/livesession/te...
#SystemDesign #SoftwareArchitecture #TechnicalFluency #ProductManagement #APIs #Databases #Scalability #Caching #loadbalancing