How can Leap Finance improve its student loan repayment calculator to provide more personalized insights for international students?

Introduction

To improve Leap Finance's student loan repayment calculator for international students, we need to focus on providing more personalized insights. This involves understanding our users' unique financial situations, educational goals, and career aspirations. I'll outline a strategic approach to enhance this critical tool, keeping in mind the diverse needs of our international student user base.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (5 mins)

• Looking at the product context, I'm thinking about the specific user journey of international students. Could you help me understand the primary use cases and key features of the current loan repayment calculator?

Why it matters: Determines the baseline functionality and areas for improvement Expected answer: Basic loan amount, interest rate, and term inputs with standard repayment schedules Impact on approach: Would focus on adding personalization layers to existing features

• Considering user behavior, I'm curious about how students typically interact with the calculator. Are there any patterns in terms of frequency of use or cross-platform usage?

Why it matters: Helps identify opportunities for engagement and integration Expected answer: Students revisit multiple times during loan consideration and early repayment stages Impact on approach: Would explore ways to save and compare scenarios, and provide ongoing value

• Thinking about Leap Finance's position in the market, how does this calculator compare to competitors, and what are the main pain points we're trying to address?

Why it matters: Identifies unique selling propositions and improvement areas Expected answer: Calculator is functional but lacks personalization compared to some competitors Impact on approach: Would focus on leveraging Leap's data and insights to provide unique value

• Considering the product lifecycle, where is the calculator in terms of maturity, and what key metrics are driving this improvement initiative?

Why it matters: Determines if we optimize for growth, retention, or feature expansion Expected answer: Calculator is established but underperforming in terms of user engagement and conversion Impact on approach: Would prioritize features that drive both engagement and conversion metrics