Dear Leaders,

Every now and then · by Hamza Shayk

Incentives and measurement

When Hitting the Numbers Still Means Losing

In the waning days of the British Raj, Delhi had a cobra problem. Venomous snakes were everywhere. The colonial government, staffed by men trained at the finest institutions in Britain, devised a perfectly rational solution: a cash bounty for every dead cobra.

Feb 10, 2026

The Infinite Currency

It is December. You are knee-deep in the most grueling spreadsheet exercise of the year: The Bonus Pool. You are calibrating payouts, debating stock option grants, and moving percentage points around to make sure your top performers feel valued and your retention metrics stay green.

Dec 18, 2025

Is It Just Growth or Also Progress?

We love to talk about growth. Revenue growth. Headcount growth. Market share growth. Growth sounds impressive because it is measurable. It’s easy to put on a slide.

Apr 30, 2025

BY GENRE

Executive isolation

Organizational drag

Incentives and measurement

Judgment

People decisions

Power and politics

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ABOUT HAMZA

I advise CEOs and senior investment professionals on difficult decisions, executive development, and organizational performance. My clients lead public, private, PE-backed and family-owned companies, or hold senior roles at investment banks, asset managers and private equity firms.