Unpacking data skills for product managers

Senior product managers need a nuanced approach to data skills, focusing not just on technical proficiency like SQL or Tableau but on strategic data application to drive business impact. Rather than meeting an exhaustive list of technical skills, a senior PM's effectiveness is determined by their ability to prioritize decisions through data-informed forecasting, balancing qualitative insights with quantitative metrics to understand user behavior and product performance. The key lies in understanding the broader business goals, translating them into actionable product strategies, and measuring outcomes against forecasts to refine decision-making processes. Experimentation, such as A/B testing, is crucial for validating ideas, although PMs need to balance statistical significance with practical decision timelines. Ultimately, senior PMs should leverage data to align product goals with business objectives, using tools like LogRocket to identify and prioritize changes that enhance user experience and business results.