# S4E38 Ahmed Wasfy | Feedback Loops, Systems Over Intentions, & the Power of Predictability

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-10-06
- Length: 47m
- Episode: 38
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-06-s4e38-ahmed-wasfy-feedback-loops-systems-over-intentions-the-power-of-predictabi
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/Ahmed-Wasfy-feedback-loops/

## Summary

Ahmed Wasfy, a former senior engineer and engineering manager at Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, and current coach at The Thriving Engineering Manager, explains his framework for effective leadership. He details three common pitfalls for new managers: ignoring feedback loops, failing to shift from technical execution to people management, and relying on intentions rather than systems. Wasfy advocates for structured habits, such as tracking happiness scores and using Monte Carlo simulations for project predictability, to mitigate burnout and improve delivery confidence.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-06-s4e38-ahmed-wasfy-feedback-loops-systems-over-intentions-the-power-of-predictabi#t=0) Introduction: Ahmed Wasfy and The Thriving Engineering Manager
- [1:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-06-s4e38-ahmed-wasfy-feedback-loops-systems-over-intentions-the-power-of-predictabi#t=81) Career Pivot: From Software Engineering to Leadership at Microsoft and Amazon
- [4:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-06-s4e38-ahmed-wasfy-feedback-loops-systems-over-intentions-the-power-of-predictabi#t=285) Three Common Pitfalls for New Engineering Managers
- [12:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-06-s4e38-ahmed-wasfy-feedback-loops-systems-over-intentions-the-power-of-predictabi#t=734) The Thriving Framework: Managing Self, People, and Projects
- [22:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-06-s4e38-ahmed-wasfy-feedback-loops-systems-over-intentions-the-power-of-predictabi#t=1331) Systems for Time, Email, and Energy Management
- [29:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-06-s4e38-ahmed-wasfy-feedback-loops-systems-over-intentions-the-power-of-predictabi#t=1776) Project Management Principles: Resources, Time, and Scope
- [36:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-06-s4e38-ahmed-wasfy-feedback-loops-systems-over-intentions-the-power-of-predictabi#t=2163) Case Study: Managing Burnout and On-Call Load at AWS
- [40:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-10-06-s4e38-ahmed-wasfy-feedback-loops-systems-over-intentions-the-power-of-predictabi#t=2428) The Power of Predictability and Monte Carlo Simulations

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Microsoft (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Google (company)
- AWS (company)
- OneNote (product)
- Office 365 (product)
- The Thriving Engineering Manager (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [386: Not Managing Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-09-02-386-not-managing-robots) (Embedded.fm)
- [21: The Tent Is Flat and Everyone Is Wet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet) (Embedded.fm)
- [#009 - Unleashing Creativity Through User-Driven Storytelling - Sam Feller - Human-Centered Engineering, Team Management, Tracking Deliverables, Tactics for Problem Solving](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/designing-in-the-wild/2022-02-21-009-unleashing-creativity-through-user-driven-storytelling-sam-feller-human-cent) (Designing in the Wild)
- [Breaking it down with Ian Brown](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-12-27-breaking-it-down-with-ian-brown) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Moonshot Engineering Projects: Getting Innovative Initiatives Off the Ground](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-05-25-moonshot-engineering-projects-getting-innovative-initiatives-off-the-ground) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

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