Waqas’ Musings

Peeking perils

No one would ever confuse me for being a data scientist. But I love working with my data scientist colleagues, and I feel that I exit every conversation…

Oct 26 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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The OKR olympiad

Over my career, I’ve had my fair share of ups & downs when it comes to my experience with OKRs.

Oct 13 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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August 2025

Beyond binary, the four faces of alignment

I believe the ability to build alignment at multiple levels on a product direction is a core PM skill.

Aug 29 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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Playing the headcount accordion

I am going to share 2 observations that will seem contradictory to each other - and that’s the point.

Aug 3 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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July 2025

Between ponies and unicorns - the personal talent stack

A couple of years ago, at the early onset of the AI era that is now in full swing, I came across an insightful and provocative post from Scott Belsky on…

Jul 14 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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June 2025

Weathering the storm

“They are still in the forming-storming phase”

Jun 19 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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May 2025

The mechanical advantage of PMs

What do the Flintstones and Product Managers have in common?

May 18 • 

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April 2025

Demystifying platform product management

This essay has been a few years in the making.

Apr 6 • 

Waqas Sheikh

 and 

Ibrahim Bashir

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February 2025

Ridges, teeth & pins

... and PM hiring in a constrained job market

Feb 9 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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January 2025

On discovery, generosity & winning teams

For a while now, I have a ritual of writing down a handful of what I refer to as new year intentions over the holidays.

Jan 20 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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December 2024

To & fro, rise & fall

“Nothing in life is certain except death & taxes” - Ben Franklin

Dec 15, 2024 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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November 2024

Bending time, with ambition

In recent months, I have been thinking a lot about product velocity.

Nov 10, 2024 • 

Waqas Sheikh

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