Episode 234: Most PMs Neglect Data Due To a Lack of Time and Skills
An interview with Martijn Moret, Founder of DataSquirrel.ai
YouTube Link | Podcast Link (all platforms)
Who is Martijn Moret?
Martijn Moret is the founder of DataSquirrel.ai, a company that uses AI to make data analysis more accessible and actionable for product managers and other non-tech managers. His passion lies in bridging the gap between data and actionable insights, empowering teams to make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Episode highlights:
1. Most Product Managers Neglect Data
Most product managers neglect data - not because they don’t value it, but due to a lack of time and skills. This often results in poor prioritisation and misguided decisions. Product managers need to embrace data as a tool for better decision-making while building the skills to use it effectively.
2. The Problem with Analysis Paralysis
With the vast amount of data available today, it’s easy to get stuck in “analysis paralysis.” One way to get around this is to focus on the 80/20 rule: spend 20% of the time identifying the data that will yield 80% of the impact. By starting with clear, specific questions, product managers can avoid wasting time on directionless data exploration.
3. Avoid Confirmation Bias in Data Analysis and Interpretation
There is always a danger of confirmation bias in data analysis, where teams subconsciously (or consciously!) overfit data to align with their preconceived notions. Product managers should craft open-ended questions and resist relying on vanity metrics. Critical thinking and being willing to question every data point are essential for deriving meaningful insights.
4. AI Accelerates Data Analysis, but you still need Humans in the Loop
AI can speed up workflows - processing tasks that once took hours in mere minutes - but it’s important to not rely on AI for critical decisions. Current AI tools, such as Large Language Models, are better suited for humanising data and presenting insights than perfect analysis; they still require human oversight to ensure reliability and accuracy.
5. The Future of Data Tools for Product Teams
Martijn predicts a shift toward more user-friendly and domain-specific data tools that go beyond static dashboards. He sees a future for platforms that enable deeper segmentation, faster exploration, and integrated domain knowledge to uncover niche insights. However, human judgment will remain essential, as AI alone cannot yet (and may never) deliver fully trustworthy results.
Contact Martijn
Find Martijn on LinkedIn or check out DataSquirrel.ai.
Great interview. My stakeholders don't love it, but I work in data creating/quality improving type features as often as possible. It seems like many companies just let bad data problems compound forever, which can lead to the fear of using company data for PMs new to the organization.