I posted this today on LinkedIn as I end my stint in Amazon.

Today marks the last day of my 8.5-year journey in Amazon. Cutting across Kindle, AWS Marketplace, Alexa, and the Public Sector with AWS, this has been a one-of-its-kind journey.   As per the Old Fart Rank- 96.47% of the Amazon population joined after me!

As I close this chapter of my professional journey at Amazon, I find myself reflecting on the invaluable lessons and experiences I’ve gained. I want to express my deepest gratitude for a journey that was not just about growing in my career but also about personal transformation.

Here are three key takeaways from Amazon’s leadership principles that have profoundly influenced me:

Think Big: Amazon’s environment of thinking big has taught me to not shy away from bold, ambitious goals that, on the face of it, do not look achievable. It’s about envisioning what could be, not being limited by what is, and not worrying about how your management team reacts to your perspective on the goals you want to achieve.  This mindset has been transformative in how I think of outcomes and then take the steps to pursue them.  Narratives and the FAQ have given me a mechanism that I did not know before I came to Amazon!  #gamechanger.

Customer Obsession: Working at Amazon, I learned that putting the customer first isn’t just a business strategy; it’s a mindset. This approach has taught me to always look beyond the obvious and strive to understand deeper needs and expectations.  I remember my early days in Kindle, where the algorithm automatically matched the best price that was offered by anyone in the industry (for a digital book) and not worried about what we had to pay the publisher (still on the old non-discounted price). If that is not customer obsession and delighting the customer, what is? #customer-delight.

Ownership: Amazon instilled in me a sense of ownership that goes beyond my immediate responsibilities. It’s about thinking long-term and never saying, “That’s not my job.” This mentality has reshaped how I approach every task and challenge, both professionally and personally.  Be it stepping up to help a broader team or helping a specific individual, ownership leads us up a path that is both unique & satisfying.  #ownership.

As I move forward, these principles will remain with me, guiding my actions and decisions. A heartfelt thank you to all my colleagues and mentors at Amazon for being a part of this incredible journey. Here’s to new beginnings and carrying these lessons forward! Here is to Amazon for continuing to change the world, one customer at a time.

And this journey has given me the confidence that anything is possible, and I am starting my new journey as a business consultant (which has been a dream for some time), but more about that shortly.  

#AmazonExperience #LeadershipPrinciples #NewBeginnings

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