In modern product management, data is everywhere—but data without context can be misleading. Product managers must balance quantitative analytics with qualitative user research to make truly informed decisions. Being “data-driven” can trap teams into chasing vanity metrics instead of solving real problems. The better mindset is to be data-informed: let numbers guide you, but always pair them with empathy and context. Metrics like retention, engagement, and user satisfaction reveal patterns, but only conversations and usability tests explain the “why.” A good PM doesn’t blindly follow dashboards—they interpret them with human understanding. Data shows behavior, but empathy reveals motivation.