Howard Hsu

✅ Closing an amazing chapter at Amazon The last 4 years at Amazon have been a whirlwind of innovation, global collaboration and excitement. My focus has been on how we can use AI to help customers shop better, across GenAI, Voice and Touch experiences in the Amazon app. It was a privilege to make history by launching Alexa into the Amazon app, and be part of the team that launched the conversational AI Amazon Rufus to US customers. This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible global talent that our team has. Special thanks goes out to my wonderful manager Vishnu Vijay, who created our amazing London team. I’m going to miss our talented global team, who are too many to mention, but some people who made a big impact over the years include Brandon Knapp, Matilde N., Estelle Yuen, Lisa Brown S., Athena Towsley, Cedonia Peterson, Tom Haines, Thomas Pregenzer, Craig Holloway PhD, Corliss Y. Collier, Chris Morrow, Tiago Wright, Mark E. and Simon Walsh. I’ve deliberately kept myself open to find the next adventure. In the meantime: 1. I’d love to have exploratory conversations over coffees, to discover what’s out there! 2. I’m free to consult if my expertise is needed. I can help you: - Understand how AI might be used to improve your products and grow your business - Set product strategy to expand your business and products - Create a culture of innovation and experimentation - Explain how to get your idea to market, and how the full product lifecycle works (including how to make your idea an actual tech product) - Help you set up processes for listening to customers - Help you expand your product or team internationally - Help you understand who’s the right team to hire to build your product (including what not to do) Let's get coffee! #Amazon #ProductManagement #GenAI #ProductLeader #LLMs #AmazonAlexa #AmazonRufus

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The latest B2BaCEO podcast episode features Samsara CEO Sanjit Biswas sharing how he went from grad school to the start-up world, and some important lessons he learned along the way. I am currently pursuing my MBA at University of Washington's Foster Business School and listening to this podcast by our own CEO at Samsara was eye opening as I look to pivot into Product Management. Especially, his insights about product management vis-a-vis Entrepreneurship and leading companies was extremely helpful. Give it a listen!

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I felt the need to comment on the recent news of onsemi’s decision to close their operations in Pocatello. While these recent layoffs do not impact me directly, it impacts our community at large and displaces a handful of individuals. Some of these individuals are people I have worked with over the years. Good humans who I want to see thrive and flourish. For those impacted by this news, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your hard work and effort you’ve put in day over day throughout the last 16 years. Some of these individuals I know personally, and I would consider them to be excellent, high performing contributors. It is heartbreaking knowing their paths are unclear, but I know they will land on their feet because their work ethic and attitudes will make them assets to their next employers. I also want to express a sorrow that comes along with any layoff or a closure. The sorrow is for our Pocatello community as a whole. Another year goes by where we are affected by a layoff at onsemi Pocatello. The number of layoffs or "reductions in force" we have experienced over the past 16 years has been draining. There’s no way we ever get accustomed to these types of decisions. I started in this industry 25 years ago and have watched friends and colleagues lose their positions and their livelihoods due to layoffs (regardless of the name on the door). While I understand the ever-volatile semiconductor environment will require organizations to reduce headcount to save money, I know our small community is past the point of exhaustion by these decisions. With all of that being said, I want those in my network, who may have been impacted by onsemi's decision to shutter their remaining Pocatello facility, to know that LA Semiconductor will do what we can to find positions that best fit your skill set. We have several open positions as well as a page to openly submit your resume.   To the others in my connections that have no affiliations with the Pocatello Semiconductor scene. LA Semiconductor is actively hiring for many positions from entry level positions to more technical positions. If you or someone you know might be interested, please send them this link.   Please don't hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance for any of those impacted by the closure. https://lnkd.in/gRkgUBBh https://lnkd.in/gGHVHmX8

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Amazon will never have incredible UI. They know what’s ‘good enough’ Lots of companies will have their ‘good enough’ and that will be difficult to change You’ll get struck out of strategic or high value conversations if you are always pushing against a ‘good enough’ which is valid to them It will be hard to make anyone care: - If the MO isn’t about fantastic experience - If it doesn’t add measurable difference to the bottom line - If they are just on the cheaper end of the market - If it’s a product that people have no choice but to use - Etc I’m not saying it is right But we also need to check our ego / mindset around perfect and perfect process Not every org needs to be Design led (Whatever that means) And that is okay ——— It’s up to you to know as a designer or leader what you are going to / getting yourself into when taking a role. Determine if it will be a match for you in terms of values, ambition etc And if you take it, be okay with it or at least manage you expectations around change

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🌟 10 Things I learned in my 10 Years at Amazon 🌟 As I bid farewell to Amazon, I found myself reflecting on a decade of growth, challenges, and unforgettable experiences, which have shaped me both professionally and personally. Here are 10 key lessons I've learned during my time at Amazon, in the famous Amazon Leadership Principles format: 1️⃣ Customer Obsession: At Amazon, the customer always comes first. This taught me the importance of empathy and truly understanding the needs and desires of those we serve. 2️⃣ Innovate & Simplify: Innovation isn't just about big ideas; it's about making complex things simple. I've learned to embrace creative problem-solving and streamline processes to drive impactful changes. 3️⃣ Embrace Change: With 11 manager changes across 6 business teams in 2 continents, adaptability has become my superpower. Each transition brought new perspectives and opportunities for growth. 4️⃣ Think Big: Amazon's global scale is mind-boggling. Being part of initiatives that touch millions worldwide has shown me the power of thinking beyond borders and aiming high. 5️⃣ Dive Deep: Details matter. Whether working on global products or enhancing customer experiences, I've learned to delve into the minutiae to ensure excellence in everything I do. 6️⃣ Learn and Be Curious: The culture at Amazon fosters continuous learning. I've been encouraged to never stop asking questions and seeking knowledge. 7️⃣ Hire and Develop the Best: Witnessing 96.5% of global Amazonians join after me emphasized the importance of nurturing talent and building strong teams. 8️⃣ Deliver Results: Amazon's fast-paced environment taught me the art of balancing quality with speed. Delivering results isn't just about meeting targets; it's about exceeding expectations. 9️⃣ Earn Trust: Trust is the cornerstone of leadership. The mentors, peers, and colleagues I've had the honor of working with have shown me that trust is built through integrity, transparency, and hard work. 🔟 Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit: Healthy debates lead to the best outcomes. I've learned to voice my opinions confidently and commit to decisions, even when there are differing viewpoints. Thank you, Amazon 🚀💼 #Amazon #Farewell #CareerGrowth #LeadershipPrinciples #ThankYou #AmazonLeadershipPrinciples

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🎉 Celebrating 10 Amazing Years at Amazon! As I mark my 10-year anniversary at Amazon today, I am filled with immense gratitude for the incredible journey I've had, the invaluable experiences I've gained, and the amazing people I've had the privilege to work alongside. From the first day one to this significant milestone, each moment has been a stepping stone towards growth, innovation, and impact. Highlights from my awesome journey: 2010: Developed CollegeBoard’s AWS Cloud Strategy, laying the foundation for accelerated innovation through cloud computing. 2012: Launched our first refactored application on AWS and had the honor of presenting my work at the first annual 2012 re:Invent, sharing insights during the Migrating Databases to AWS session. Thank You  Ed Porter, Stephen Morad, Lue Ann Ray, Sri Elaprolu, Grant McAlister, and Rahul Pathak for your customer obsession and guidance. 2014: My first Day 1 - Joined AWS as the 6th member of the Public Sector ProServe team, starting 5 years of technical consulting, helping over 300 customers achieve their AWS goals. During this time, I played a key role in evolving the MRP framework, enabling us to deliver impactful offerings and generate substantial value for our Public Sector customers. Thank You Josh Weatherly. Blake Chism, Joe Healy, John Docherty, Brett Miller, Robert D. Barnes, CISSP, Malini Saxena, Zaheer Tanveer, Taj Chadha, Steve Boyce, John Dancy, Christine Screnci, Bo Lechangeur, Rick Wiggins, Cole H., Tatyana Yatskevich, Mark Burr, Elizabeth Phillips Boudreau, and countless others for your mentorship and partnership. 2019-2022: Recruited by AWS ProServe Migration and Modernization Practice to develop and launch transformative offerings, including the Mobilize offering for our MAP customers. Also, developed the Rapid Migration Beta to address the MAP program's desire to offer customers a fixed priced per server migrations. Thank you Matt Collins, Tom Bush, Todd Tjoelker, German Goncalves V. C., Chris Baker, Wally L., Adam Spicer, Addison Cox, Arushi Bhalla, and others for your mentorship and partnership. 2022-2024: Recruited by AWS Support and Managed Services to develop and beta test a new migration assistant product, AWS Countdown Premium, that we launched at re:Invent 2023 and now scaling to customers across all GEOs in multiple languages. Thank you Deepak Sharma, Lynn Jones, Atul Anand, Abhishek M Sullad, Louis De Bruin, Nick Stapleton and others for supporting and enabling our successful product launch. Each milestone, achievement, and challenge has been a testament to the incredible culture of innovation, customer obsession, and relentless pursuit of excellence at Amazon. I am extremely grateful for the support of my colleagues, mentors, and leaders who have inspired and empowered me every step of the way. Here's to another decade of innovation, collaboration, and making a difference at Amazon! #Amazon #AWS #10YearAnniversary #Innovation #Gratitude #redbadge

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Hello everyone! 👋 I wanted to share some of my key takeaways from working as a TPM Co-op at Amazon Robotics for the past 6 months. 🦾📅 My favorite Leadership Principles so far which I also try to use in daily life: ✨ Learn and Be Curious: Continuously seek to learn and grow. Applying this principle in real life encourages lifelong learning and adaptability to change. ✨ Ownership: Take responsibility for your work and its outcomes. In everyday life, this means being accountable for your actions and their impact on others. ✨ Invent and Simplify: Innovate and find ways to simplify processes. This can be applied to streamline daily tasks and problem-solving approaches, making life more efficient and less stressful. ✨ Think Big: Aim for ambitious goals. In real life, this means setting and pursuing challenging objectives that drive significant impact and personal growth. ✨ Earn Trust: Build and maintain trust through integrity and transparency. This is crucial in all relationships, whether professional or personal. ✨ Dive Deep: Delve into details and understand the intricacies of your work. In daily life, this means thoroughly understanding situations before making decisions or taking actions. ✨ Deliver Results: Focus on delivering results with a sense of urgency. This means being goal-oriented and ensuring that you meet your commitments. Technical Takeaways: 🔧 Learning Curve: Rapid acquisition of technical skills, including understanding complex robotics systems and back-end software used in automation. 🔧 Problem-Solving: Enhanced ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues efficiently. 🔧 System Integration: Gained experience in integrating various subsystems and ensuring seamless operation within larger systems. 🔧 Data Analysis: Strengthened skills in analyzing data to inform decision-making and improve system performance. Functional Takeaways: 🚀 Project/Program Management: Developed robust project management skills using tools like Asana and Amazon's exceptional internal tools, enabling effective planning, execution, and monitoring of team projects. 🚀 Cross-Functional Collaboration: Gained experience working with different teams, understanding their needs, and aligning goals to achieve common objectives. 🚀 Process Optimization: Learned to identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements to enhance productivity and quality. I hope this post helps aspiring TPMs, and I would love to connect with TPMs working in other organizations to learn more about their experiences. 🌟 Below is the cool picture of my favorite Drive Unit - Proteus which is Amazon's first fully autonomous warehouse robot designed to move around Amazon's facilities on its own while carrying carts fulls of packages. With its advanced safety, perception and navigation technology, it is able to do its work without hindering human employees. #AmazonRobotics #TPM #Leadership #TechnicalSkills #ProfessionalGrowth #Networking

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Lot's of interesting ideas shared at this event. It's a big task trying to get all of these important institutions on the same page. But if successful, it will be well worth all the headaches. #semiconductor #technology #innovation

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Took me weeks to feel comfortable sharing that after 10 and a half years at Amazon my role was eliminated. Since receiving that notification, I have been dealing with a wide variety of emotions. Never shocked but surprised, disappointed, sad and ultimately motivated. Being at Amazon for such a long time I have seen a large number of layoffs and even more large-scale layoffs in the past years. Every time I was grateful to keep my job because I knew at the end of the day nobody is bigger than the company no matter what value I contributed. I chose to take this situation as a blessing in disguise. It sucks to not have employment, but it is giving me the time to really do a self-inventory on myself as an employee and as an outstanding contributor to a company. I know I'm not alone in this and the market is flooded with amazing talent so it will be tough to find a position but the prep work has already started. Networking is so important and as my fiancé says "You know everybody!" lol so I will be using that to help find my next career opportunity. To everybody on this hunt with me it's not that we weren't enough it just wasn't the position or company that deserved us. Tough times don't last Tough people do! I'm looking into Business Operations support and specialist positions but open to any positions where I can use my years of experience deep diving into business data to surface insights, develop process improvements, create actionable recommendations and resolve escalations. Feel free to reach out with any leads, advice or just to catch up as this is a whole new world for me but excited to find my next opportunity.

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I've been challenging some folks to give me examples of the pros and cons of LLMs impact on society to date. Would be curious to hear others thoughts Pros: New communication channel/opportunity for deeply isolated people and/or those who live in oppressive situations and need someone to talk to (ex. gay youth in a homophobic household) decent entry level coding help (definitely helps me) way easier to find good intro recipes or gardening tips as it doesn't waste my time talking about their summer with grandma as an SEO scam to drive engagement It seems like it could dramatically change education in a positive way (see cons section) Cons: Undermines the percieved value of creative writing since it was trained on data without compensation. Thankfully Hollywood got in front of this one. Still waiting on the outcome NYT case, but at least some of the AI firms are recognizing how unacceptable this is long term (see Google paying Reddit for training data). Massive influx of bot farms which has allowed foreign governments to automate weaponization of social media, further adding evidence to dead internet theory Potentially insane CO2 footprint For anyone who has been in industry for 10+ years you know the joy of the "exciting new thing that will revolutionize everything!" hype train while you're just trying to do base business. It seems like it could dramatically change education in a negative way ------ Anyways, please feel free to share your pros/cons

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January 25, 2016: My first day at Amazon's BWI2 Robotic Fulfillment Center. I walked in with 50 others, all part of the first cohort, feeling a whirlwind of excitement, nervousness, and that "did I make the right choice?" uncertainty. First-day jitters are real, y'all! Everyone wants to make a good impression and do their best. If you're starting a new job, here are some tips I've learned: - Arrive early: Aim for 15 minutes before your official start time. Shows you're eager and gives you a buffer in case of unexpected delays. - Come prepared: Bring a notepad and pen (even if they provide them). You'll want to take notes and capture important details. - Dress the part: Research the company's dress code beforehand. When in doubt, ask your recruiter or hiring manager. - Listen and be present: Put the phone away and focus on learning as much as you can. - EOD summary: End your day by jotting down what you learned, observations, and questions you want to ask later. Remember, everyone experiences those first-day butterflies! If you're already established in your role, be kind and welcoming to new folks. We've all been there, and that empathy goes a long way. #firstdayofwork #newjob #careeradvice #amazon #fulfillmentcenter #newhire #onboarding #professionaldevelopment #AreaManager #Day1

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Follow Narmin's tips and get ready for Prime Day!

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Amazon gave its Echo ecosystem developers a little bit less than a month's notice that it was canning the ability for them to manage lists through their integrations/skills. Normally I wouldn't care too much as a consumer about a deprecated API (it happens), but synching with Todoist has been one of the killer features of using Amazon Alexa/Echo devices for shopping (and other) lists for us. Tell Alexa what you need, and it magically appears on your (and other family member's) phone in the todo app of your choice, making it considerably simpler to remember the milk :) It's second only to using it as an egg timer in terms of value in our house. Lists are still in the Alexa app, which is absolute crap, and the API deprecation to force us there is yet another papercut (for me) in a long series of papercuts that continues to erode the value of the various echoes in our home. I understand the Echo ecosystem is not anything near the commercial success Amazon wanted, and is bleeding out money, and I'm mostly sad we have as many wee screens around the home as we do. Another nail. Alas.

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Today I start a new position at Apple as a Product Quality Engineer. "Wait, didn’t you just start at Tesla?" (I can already hear some of my friends saying) Yes, I did, but unfortunately, I was impacted by the global layoffs after only two months. April 22 was my last day at Tesla, a date that coincidentally marked the anniversary of my journey from Michigan to Cali for my Tesla internship. The excitement I felt a year ago was mirrored by the shock and disbelief I experienced when I heard about the layoff. Throughout the past year, I shared with many of you how incredible Tesla was and how eager I was to contribute to the company’s mission of driving the world’s energy transition. Unfortunately, that dream came to an abrupt halt on my last day at Tesla. The news came without any performance metrics, leaving me at a loss for what to do next. Tesla was also a significant factor in my decision to return to China for my career. Initially, I had planned to work in the US for several years after graduation, but life had other plans. However now it is the time for new chapter. There’s a Chinese idiom that says, "Sometimes misfortune is a blessing in disguise." Reflecting on my career path, I realize that whether it’s Tesla or another company, each experience is a stepping stone that shapes my journey. This experience, though challenging, has provided me with invaluable lessons that will stay with me forever. Unlike a job, these lessons cannot be taken away by a layoff. I am immensely grateful for the encouragement, kind words, and support from my family, friends, and former colleagues. You are the treasures in my life, unaffected by layoffs or worldly changes. Also appreciate for Tesla, I am insisting on that Tesla is one of the best company. I will continue pursuing my career and finding the heights I aim to reach. Lastly, I would like to share something I was supposed to present to my team during the freshman presentation at Tesla. In my first two months, I spent most of time with the production team at the General Assembly Department, learning about the production lines and team dynamics. I followed their 12-hour, 4-day swing shifts, serving as a Production Associate and Lead Production Associate. This experience taught me how challenging their jobs are and the crucial role of a Process Engineer. Driving each screw into each Model 3, within time constraints and maintaining quality, gave me a profound appreciation for their work. To myself and to you, I say, "As a Process Engineer, we are not only committed to producing the best products but also to collaborating with the production team. Our designs, like ergonomics, impact their daily lives. We are seen as smart individuals, and it’s essential to apply understanding and helpful thoughts, not just ideal designs."

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Did you know Roku was beginning to add advertisements to their user's home pages? This comes after their first quarter earnings report concluded that the company is losing money, and to combat this they plan on increasing video ads, as they are one of the most profitable types of ads. Want to learn more, check out this article from cord cutters news about the decision.

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#Amaversary Celebrating seven years at Amazon today! The 'every-day' passes so swiftly, that a milestone like 'seven years' tends to make you a little reflective. If there is one thing that continually makes working at Amazon a delightful experience for me, it is our culture of invention. Sharing my favorite 4 quotes that reflect this culture best.  Could I have chosen 7 quotes for 7 years - sure! But that's another thing I've learnt - don't follow something just bcz it is status quo 😋 Here we go: 1. “We are stubborn on vision. We are flexible on details.” 2. “Our success at Amazon is a function of how many experiments we do per year, per month, per week, per day. If you double the number of experiments you do per year, you’re going to double your inventiveness.” 3. "We need big failures in order to move the needle. If we don’t, we’re not swinging enough. You really should be swinging hard, and you will fail, but that’s okay." 4. "Keep inventing, and don’t despair when at first the idea looks crazy. Remember to wander. Let curiosity be your compass. It remains Day 1" Looking forward to more of this! 😀

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**Welcome to Amazon** Real talk—this week was 100% not fun. We hit a bunch of wins but missed on one day. One day we missed and that became the focus of literally everyone. It became the focus so much so that it’s all that was talked about during my 1:1 “mentoring.” I got the, Amazon is hard and, you need to get your sh$* together to succeed here. I’ve been in hard units and I’ve done hard things—I’ll be fine, but thanks for making sure I know how hard it’ll be. I get it. I had a good idea of what I was getting into. It’s all about the money made and money saved. It was also a little weird to get told, “I’ll always tell you when you screw up.” Like, ok man. You know you can also tell your team when they’re doing well. Lastly, I competed and was selected for the “elite” Pathways program, but certain people like to remind me daily that Pathways doesn’t mean anything. Feels like petty hate and that’s ok too. But I’m pretty sure Pathways does mean something or it wouldn’t exist. Real talk—normal people don’t go around putting down other people just because. Be a leader and not a boss. Start there. #amazon #team #teamofteams #leadership

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