Productside Stories

The Emerging Role of the Product Analyst with Jesus Vergara

Featured Guest:

Jesse Vergara | Director of Digital Product Management at Nationwide
01/10/2025

Summary

In this episode, Rina Alexin interviews Jesse Vergara, Director of Digital Product Management at Nationwide, about the creation and evolution of the Product Analyst role — a position redefining how enterprises leverage data in product decision-making.

Jesse explains how Nationwide identified inefficiencies caused by inconsistent data sources and the lack of product-specific insights. To solve this, they embedded product analysts directly into product teams, ensuring that data collection, validation, and storytelling align tightly with each product’s strategy.

He discusses how this role enables product managers to focus on vision and execution, while analysts support them with research, reporting, and actionable insights. The conversation also uncovers measurable business outcomes, including significant time savings and increased visibility into customer feedback loops.

Jesse closes by sharing his perspective on the career path for product analysts, describing it as a powerful entry point into product management and a role that blends analytical precision with customer empathy.

Takeaways

  • Product analysts bridge the gap between data and product strategy.

  • Data consistency is critical — multiple sources lead to conflicting insights.

  • The product analyst role is ideal for large enterprises with complex data ecosystems.

  • Embedding analysts in product teams improves decision-making speed and accuracy.

  • This role complements product managers, allowing them to focus on vision and leadership.

  • Clean, validated data is essential before implementing AI or advanced analytics.

  • Product analysts help quantify ROI through measurable time and cost savings.

  • The role supports agile practices by surfacing real-time insights from customer feedback.

  • Product analysts can evolve into product managers, blending technical and business acumen.

  • Strong communication and data storytelling skills are key success factors.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Jesse’s Journey into Product Management
02:34 The Origins of the Product Analyst Role at Nationwide
04:46 Why Product Managers Need Dedicated Analysts
06:54 Building the Business Case for a Product Analyst
07:56 Which Companies Benefit from this Role
09:43 Dashboard Development and Time Savings
10:47 Why Not Just Use a Data Analyst?
11:46 The Power of Domain Expertise in Product Analysis
13:41 The Product Analyst’s Role in Data Accuracy and Collection
15:22 How Product Analysts Fit with Product Operations Teams
17:19 Measuring ROI and Productivity Gains
20:04 Before-and-After Metrics: Sprint Value and Cost Savings
22:06 How the Role Evolved During and After COVID-19
24:20 Managing Product Analysts and Setting KPIs
27:35 Customer Performance Indicators (CPIs) and Customer Insights
28:26 Career Pathways for Product Analysts
30:12 Storytelling with Data and Developing Technical Skills
33:53 Balancing Soft Skills and Business Acumen
35:47 Coaching, Mentorship, and Developing Future Product Leaders
37:04 Final Thoughts on Building Data-Centric Product Teams

Keywords

product analyst, product management, data-driven decisions, Nationwide, Jesus Vergara, Rina Alexin, digital transformation, agile product management, data accuracy, dashboards, Power BI, business intelligence, AI readiness, storytelling with data, voice of customer, product operations, team productivity, customer performance indicators, analytics career path, leadership

Introduction and Jesus’s Journey into Product Management

Rina Alexin | 00:00–00:47

Welcome to *Productside Stories*! I’m your host, **Rina Alexin**, and today I’m joined by **Jesus Vergara**, Director of Digital Product Management at **Nationwide**. Jesus, thank you so much for being here.

Jesus Vergara | 00:47–02:34

Thanks for having me, Rina. I’m really excited about today’s topic — the Product Analyst. My passion for product management started about eight years ago when our organization transitioned from a **plan–build–run model** to an **agile framework**.

We realized we needed to move away from waterfall delivery and focus on speed, ownership, and iteration. During that transition, we discovered a huge problem: data. Different business units were using inconsistent data sources and telling different stories. That inconsistency inspired the creation of a Product Analyst role — someone focused on product-specific data accuracy, insights, and storytelling.

The Origins of the Product Analyst Role at Nationwide

Jesus Vergara | 02:34–04:46

Initially, we pulled in analysts and data scientists from other departments. But while they could produce reports, they lacked **product context**. We needed someone embedded in the team — an expert who understood the product, the customer journey, and the business goals.

The Product Analyst became an integral part of the product line, working alongside engineers, designers, and product managers. Their mission: translate data into actionable insights that improve product performance and customer experience.

Why Product Managers Need Dedicated Analysts

Jesus Vergara | 04:46–06:54

Yes, product managers should be analytical — but their focus must remain on **vision and strategy**. A Product Analyst complements this by managing data collection, analysis, and visualization. They handle pre-discovery research, collaborate with UX, and ensure every decision is data-backed.

This separation allows PMs to focus on evolving the product vision while Analysts ensure every iteration aligns with measurable outcomes.

Building the Business Case for a Product Analyst

Jesus Vergara | 06:54–07:56

At large organizations, introducing a new role must come with clear ROI. For us, the Product Analyst role filled critical gaps in **data accuracy**, **dashboard development**, and **report automation**, leading to measurable productivity gains.

Which Companies Benefit from this Role

Jesus Vergara | 07:56–09:43

This role thrives in **large enterprises** — organizations that generate massive data volumes and need specialized expertise to interpret them. Smaller startups, where PMs have direct access to leadership and fewer data silos, may not need this specialization.

Dashboard Development and Time Savings

Jesus Vergara | 09:43–10:47

Our Product Analysts built dashboards using **Power BI** and **Power Automate** that saved 40 hours a month per associate — that’s a full work week! Those time savings allow the team to focus on real problem-solving rather than manual reporting.

Why Not Just Use a Data Analyst?

Jesus Vergara | 10:47–11:46

Good question — data analysts are great, but they often lack **product context**. A Product Analyst understands the business goals, customer pain points, and how metrics tie back to strategy. That domain expertise is what turns numbers into actionable insights.

The Power of Domain Expertise in Product Analysis

Jesus Vergara | 11:46–13:41

The difference is ownership. Product Analysts know the product’s data sources, metrics, and desired outcomes. They ensure data integrity and provide recommendations to improve journeys, not just reports. They translate customer voice into measurable product improvements.

The Product Analyst’s Role in Data Accuracy and Collection

Jesus Vergara | 13:41–15:22

They work closely with cross-functional teams to identify where and how data is collected, ensuring consistency and a **single source of truth**. This improves the quality of analysis and builds trust across business units.

How Product Analysts Fit with Product Operations Teams

Jesus Vergara | 15:22–17:19

In some organizations, Product Analysts may sit under **Product Operations**, but in our structure, they’re embedded directly within product teams. They’re as essential as a PM or PO — driving efficiency, iteration, and performance at the product level.

Measuring ROI and Productivity Gains

Jesus Vergara | 17:19–20:04

Our Product Analysts drive both **cost avoidance** and **value creation**. By identifying issues earlier and automating reporting, they reduce rework, improve sprint outcomes, and accelerate customer insights.

Before-and-After Metrics: Sprint Value and Cost Savings

Jesus Vergara | 20:04–22:06

With data-backed insights available faster, our teams can focus more on continuous improvement. Analysts help us measure sprint ROI and ensure each iteration delivers higher value.

How the Role Evolved During and After COVID-19

Jesus Vergara | 22:06–24:20

COVID accelerated our digital transformation. We formalized the Product Analyst role in 2020, and it quickly became central to our product philosophy. Analysts brought consistency and a unified data strategy across all product lines.

Managing Product Analysts and Setting KPIs

Jesus Vergara | 24:20–27:35

Leaders should track KPIs like: – Number of data-driven recommendations implemented – Impact on key product metrics – Customer Performance Indicators (CPIs) – Speed of insights and decision-making

Dashboards, trend analyses, and storytelling all feed into measuring product improvement.

Customer Performance Indicators (CPIs) and Customer Insights

Jesus Vergara | 27:35–28:26

CPIs complement KPIs by measuring customer experience — things like conversion, friction, and satisfaction. This helps connect operational data with real human outcomes.

Career Pathways for Product Analysts

Jesus Vergara | 28:26–30:12

Product Analysts can move into **Product Manager** or **Product Owner** roles, or pivot into **data leadership**. The role builds analytical strength and stakeholder communication skills — key stepping stones for leadership.

Storytelling with Data and Developing Technical Skills

Jesus Vergara | 30:12–33:53

Great analysts tell stories with data. Learn to code, query, and visualize — but also learn to communicate. The ability to weave customer narratives into metrics is what differentiates outstanding Product Analysts.

Balancing Soft Skills and Business Acumen

Jesus Vergara | 33:53–35:47

It’s not just technical ability — it’s business understanding. Knowing your product’s market, competition, and user context is essential for meaningful insights.

Coaching, Mentorship, and Developing Future Product Leaders

Jesus Vergara | 35:47–37:04

Product Analysts are the next generation of data-driven product leaders. By combining analytics, empathy, and storytelling, they’re shaping the future of digital product management.

Final Thoughts on Building Data-Centric Product Teams

Jesus Vergara | 37:04–End

Data without empathy is meaningless. The Product Analyst ensures that numbers tell a story — one centered around the customer. That’s how teams innovate responsibly and build trust.