Mikal Lewis
@mikal-el.com
Human. Tech & Product Management
Former product @ Microsoft, Nordstrom, and more. Writing for 10+ years sharing hard won truths on life and product.
Baltimore 🛫, FAMU, SEA, 🛬 ATX.
More: boldtowin.com
Former product @ Microsoft, Nordstrom, and more. Writing for 10+ years sharing hard won truths on life and product.
Baltimore 🛫, FAMU, SEA, 🛬 ATX.
More: boldtowin.com
Pinned
Mikal Lewis
@mikal-el.com
· Jul 24
Subscribe – Product Guidance for PMs who Dare to do Better
Insights on building high-growth products, high-velocity teams, and lasting customer loyalty—from product management leader Mikal Lewis.
boldtowin.com
The hard part of product—the part that improves lives—can’t be automated away.
But only when we’re bold enough to win. I write about that.
If that sounds interesting, join my free (not Substack) newsletter where I’ve been exploring the why of product for 10 years.
But only when we’re bold enough to win. I write about that.
If that sounds interesting, join my free (not Substack) newsletter where I’ve been exploring the why of product for 10 years.
Prince
The Roots
Erykah Badu
NxWorries
BEP opening for OutKast
The Roots
Erykah Badu
NxWorries
BEP opening for OutKast
Destiny’s Child
The Roots
Pharrell / Kanye West
Peaches / Tears for Fears
Faith Evans
The Roots
Pharrell / Kanye West
Peaches / Tears for Fears
Faith Evans
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen:
Stevie Wonder
Tkay Maidza
Janelle Monáe
Eryn Allen Kane
Passion Pit
Stevie Wonder
Tkay Maidza
Janelle Monáe
Eryn Allen Kane
Passion Pit
November 28, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Prince
The Roots
Erykah Badu
NxWorries
BEP opening for OutKast
The Roots
Erykah Badu
NxWorries
BEP opening for OutKast
Ravens out here doing a terrible job granting reprieve from the orioles season
November 28, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Ravens out here doing a terrible job granting reprieve from the orioles season
I have a theory that songs about necks are guaranteed hits.
thanksgiving is a time for people to come together, to celebrate the spirit of unity despite our differences, and to demonstrate that, here is busta rhymes performing "break ya neck" with raphael the ninja turtle
November 28, 2025 at 3:56 AM
I have a theory that songs about necks are guaranteed hits.
Rich people are just like you.
Great at business.
Unless you ask if their sports team turned a profit.
Great at business.
Unless you ask if their sports team turned a profit.
November 27, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Rich people are just like you.
Great at business.
Unless you ask if their sports team turned a profit.
Great at business.
Unless you ask if their sports team turned a profit.
LeBron going to tire of Luca putting up 17 shots in a half real quick.
November 26, 2025 at 5:27 AM
LeBron going to tire of Luca putting up 17 shots in a half real quick.
Reposted by Mikal Lewis
PSA for Baltimore people: The 34th Street holiday light display (in Hampden) starts THIS WEEKEND!!
Plan accordingly
Plan accordingly
November 24, 2025 at 11:27 PM
PSA for Baltimore people: The 34th Street holiday light display (in Hampden) starts THIS WEEKEND!!
Plan accordingly
Plan accordingly
Two thousand dollars.
Documents: AI music startup Suno has spent $32M on compute power and $2,000 on data, such as music, to train its model since January 2024
By Kristin Robinson / Billboard. View the full context on Techmeme.
www.techmeme.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Two thousand dollars.
I can see this point of view, but I’m reminded that:
1. Even an injured starter covers more innings than a reliever.
2. And relievers have higher injury rates than starters.
1. Even an injured starter covers more innings than a reliever.
2. And relievers have higher injury rates than starters.
I'm not sure you can say it's gone "incredibly well" for Lopez and King when both of them experienced serious arm injuries the year after their starter conversion. Well, it went incredibly well in that it made them way more money than they would have otherwise earned.
(This is MLBTR)
(This is MLBTR)
November 23, 2025 at 6:44 PM
I can see this point of view, but I’m reminded that:
1. Even an injured starter covers more innings than a reliever.
2. And relievers have higher injury rates than starters.
1. Even an injured starter covers more innings than a reliever.
2. And relievers have higher injury rates than starters.
If I could get my book spending under control I’d ascend to heaven.
November 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
If I could get my book spending under control I’d ascend to heaven.
I think product managers should frame problems—and if they have good ideas or conviction share reference solutions.
But only hold onto the solutions with a strength that matches your evidence.
But only hold onto the solutions with a strength that matches your evidence.
November 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I think product managers should frame problems—and if they have good ideas or conviction share reference solutions.
But only hold onto the solutions with a strength that matches your evidence.
But only hold onto the solutions with a strength that matches your evidence.
This is incorrect.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air debuted September 10, 1990 kicking off the new decade.
The decade ended with the release of Prince’s song 1999 on December 31st of the namesake year.
These are facts, don’t look it up.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air debuted September 10, 1990 kicking off the new decade.
The decade ended with the release of Prince’s song 1999 on December 31st of the namesake year.
These are facts, don’t look it up.
This is correct. The 80s didn’t end until Smells Like Teen Spirit.
November 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
This is incorrect.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air debuted September 10, 1990 kicking off the new decade.
The decade ended with the release of Prince’s song 1999 on December 31st of the namesake year.
These are facts, don’t look it up.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air debuted September 10, 1990 kicking off the new decade.
The decade ended with the release of Prince’s song 1999 on December 31st of the namesake year.
These are facts, don’t look it up.
The take on Bautista vs Rodriguez is so interesting.
Especially given how valuable starters are versus closers.
Especially given how valuable starters are versus closers.
November 22, 2025 at 12:01 AM
The take on Bautista vs Rodriguez is so interesting.
Especially given how valuable starters are versus closers.
Especially given how valuable starters are versus closers.
Today I had the opportunity to celebrate the life of a special woman and the impact of a life well lived.
Take this as a reminder, not to wait until the end; in all the ways you can, celebrate life today.
Take this as a reminder, not to wait until the end; in all the ways you can, celebrate life today.
November 21, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Today I had the opportunity to celebrate the life of a special woman and the impact of a life well lived.
Take this as a reminder, not to wait until the end; in all the ways you can, celebrate life today.
Take this as a reminder, not to wait until the end; in all the ways you can, celebrate life today.
I’m really not looking forward to the best of 2025 lists that are about to leave the drafts folder on Monday
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I’m really not looking forward to the best of 2025 lists that are about to leave the drafts folder on Monday
What?!
Behind this important reversal is a member of the Coast Guard who saw what was happening and had the courage to leak it to the press. That person deserves serious praise.
November 21, 2025 at 2:21 PM
What?!
I love how when you share your location until End of the Day—Apple rightfully assumes you mean 5 am.
November 21, 2025 at 4:32 AM
I love how when you share your location until End of the Day—Apple rightfully assumes you mean 5 am.
Unless both are injured.*
*and one doesn’t want to play center.
*and one doesn’t want to play center.
The only hypothetical trade for Anthony Davis that actually makes sense to me is Paul George and change for AD. You can't count on Embiid or AD to stay healthy, but if you have BOTH of them, you can essentially bank on always having *one* great center who can play. It's brilliant.
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Unless both are injured.*
*and one doesn’t want to play center.
*and one doesn’t want to play center.
It’s been ten years since a Roots LP.
Do better people.
Do better people.
November 21, 2025 at 12:37 AM
It’s been ten years since a Roots LP.
Do better people.
Do better people.
This is going to have the opposite effect. Fans are going to have fewer options to see the artists they love.
November 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
This is going to have the opposite effect. Fans are going to have fewer options to see the artists they love.
I am so happy.
I am in a time of sadness.
These states aren’t contradictory—they are life.
I am in a time of sadness.
These states aren’t contradictory—they are life.
November 20, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I am so happy.
I am in a time of sadness.
These states aren’t contradictory—they are life.
I am in a time of sadness.
These states aren’t contradictory—they are life.
Signing a bat was an option too.
November 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Signing a bat was an option too.
I think this offseason I’m a spectator only because it’s the second offseason I have no clue what Elias is doing.
November 19, 2025 at 4:35 AM
I think this offseason I’m a spectator only because it’s the second offseason I have no clue what Elias is doing.
Wait this is a real trade…
I mean it’s not a trade idea, it’s a trade trade?
I mean it’s not a trade idea, it’s a trade trade?
November 19, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Wait this is a real trade…
I mean it’s not a trade idea, it’s a trade trade?
I mean it’s not a trade idea, it’s a trade trade?
If you had a bad yesterday, I’m sorry about that—yesterdays are like that sometimes.
But todays want to do better.
But todays want to do better.
November 18, 2025 at 12:32 PM
If you had a bad yesterday, I’m sorry about that—yesterdays are like that sometimes.
But todays want to do better.
But todays want to do better.
We can’t treat the human element as the problem at work—when the human element is exactly what makes a society.
Even before AI, the lack of investment in growing up junior employees is a massive risk that we cannot keep ignoring. There have to be pathways and onramps to participating in the world fully.
We will pay now
or pay later, but we will pay.
nymag.com/intelligence...
We will pay now
or pay later, but we will pay.
nymag.com/intelligence...
‘There’s Just No Reason to Deal With Young Employees’
AI is taking entry-level jobs. What happens when Gen-Z-ers can’t start their careers?
nymag.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:27 PM
We can’t treat the human element as the problem at work—when the human element is exactly what makes a society.