Santhosh L.’s Post

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” — Seneca Last month, I bid farewell to my journey at Amazon. As I reflect, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of gratitude and growth. The experience has been nothing short of enlightening, challenging, and rewarding. There are many things I’ll never forget. As I move forward, three of Amazon’s Leadership Principles will continue to be integral to my professional ethos: 1. Customer Obsession - It reaffirmed to me the value of placing customer satisfaction at the core of every initiative. 2. Learn and Be Curious - It fostered an environment where I could continually question, evolve, and satiate my curiosity. 3. Insist on the Highest Standards - It instilled in me a relentless pursuit for excellence and the drive to continually raise the bar. I am excited to discover the next chapter awaiting me. Equipped with the invaluable lessons and experiences gathered during my tenure at Amazon, I know I will continue to be a force to be reckoned with. Watch out world! In sincerity, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the brilliant minds I had the honor to work alongside, and to Amazon for being a phenomenal, peculiar part of my professional journey. #NewBeginnings #Gratitude #AmazonJourney #LeadershipPrinciples #LifeAtAmazon #dayone

Today marks my last “Day One” at Amazon 😊 Here’s what I’ve learned in 42 months: It's a bittersweet moment! Hard to sum up such an incredible journey, but here goes! 3 things I will miss the most: 👥 The People: It's been a privilege working with such talented and supportive colleagues. The teamwork, laughs, and shared successes have made every day here special. 🌱 Personal Growth: Amazon wants you to succeed. The commitment to continuous learning and growth here has played a pivotal role in my own evolution. 💡Leadership That Inspires: The leaders here are more than just managers; they're mentors. Their commitment to my personal and professional growth has been a key part of my journey. I have learned that while skills are crucial, they don’t surpass the importance of 👉 the attitude & 👉 the passion …that we bring each day to work With that, I’d like to give special thanks to Brenda Rios, Sirisha Reddy G V, Girish Shekhar, Deepthi Chidambaram, Lewis B., Shawn Jassal, Uday Unni, Garrett Sato, Shaun Wackerly, Bharat Bhardwaj, Faezeh Ashtiani, Jared Huang, Neil Sadhukhan, Shubham W., and many more! As I close this chapter at Amazon, I look back with gratitude and forward with excitement. Thanks to everyone who's been part of this journey. Here’s to the next adventure! #FarewellAmazon #CareerJourney #OnwardsAndUpwards #amazon #alexa #echo #alexashopping

🌟 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

90 Days In: Living Amazon's Leadership Principles Every Day Three months ago, I walked into the doors of Amazon, wide-eyed and excited. What drew me in wasn't just the innovative buzz but the company's Leadership Principles – a set of 16 guidelines shaping every decision and action. Now, I'm experiencing them firsthand, and let me tell you, it's an energizing ride. One principle that hits me daily is Think Big. My team is working on a project that could impact millions of customers. We're encouraged to challenge assumptions, explore bold ideas, and not be afraid to fail. This audacious spirit pushes us to think beyond the immediate and strive for game-changing solutions. Speaking of customers, Customer Obsession isn't just a tagline; it's our North Star. Every decision, from product features to internal processes, revolves around exceeding customer expectations. We obsess over their needs, anticipate their problems, and celebrate their victories. This relentless focus ensures we're constantly innovating and delivering real value. But what truly fuels this engine is Hire and Develop the Best. The talent at Amazon is staggering. I'm surrounded by individuals who are brilliant, collaborative, and hungry to learn. The company invests heavily in employee development, providing opportunities to grow, experiment, and push our boundaries. This creates an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best, ultimately benefiting the customer. It's still early days, but my Amazon journey has been a masterclass in leadership. These principles aren't just words on a wall; they're woven into the fabric of our work. And the impact? It's palpable. It's in the groundbreaking ideas, the laser focus on customers, and the unwavering commitment to excellence. Here's to many more days of living these principles and making a real difference! #AmazonLeadershipPrinciples #CustomerObsession #ThinkBig #HireAndDevelopTheBest #NewAtAmazon #Day1

First month at Amazon!✅ I can’t believe it’s already been a month since I joined the Amazonian family, and it has been nothing short of amazing. I’m amazed by how much our work is positively shaped by our leadership principles, and I wanted to take this moment to reflect on my learning. 1. Learn and be curious: I’ve embraced the culture of asking question and be curious, no question is a silly question! 2. Customer obsession: the idea of working backwards to support and gain customer trust has been eye-opening. It’s incredible how this commitment to the customer drives innovation and result. 3. Think big: Amazon empowers us to dream big on everything we do, one key thing I’ve taken to heart is that it’s not just about the size of the idea, but the passion and dedication behind it. Moving into a new role and company can be daunting, special shout out to Peter, Finlay and Alex for the support and guidance! I’m excited for what lies ahead in my Amazonian journey! 😁 #Amazonian

🎉 Celebrating 4 incredible years as an Amazonian! 🌐🚀 Reflecting on this journey, I'm grateful for the opportunities to live and breathe Amazon's Leadership Principles. Here's a glimpse into my experience: Customer Obsession: From Day 1, I've been immersed in the world of relentless customer focus. Every challenge and triumph has been an opportunity to innovate and exceed expectations. Ownership: Amazon empowers its people to take ownership. Over the years, I've led initiatives, taken risks, and learned that ownership is not just a principle but a way of Amazonian life. Invent and Simplify: Innovation is the heartbeat of Amazon. I've been inspired to challenge the status quo, to think big, and simplify complex problems, fostering a culture of constant invention. Learn and Be Curious: A key part of Amazon's DNA is continuous learning. I've embraced new challenges, acquired new skills, and fostered a curiosity-driven mindset that fuels personal and professional growth. Insist on the Highest Standards: The pursuit of excellence is ingrained in Amazon's culture. I've experienced firsthand the commitment to delivering high-quality results and the importance of setting ambitious standards. Earn Trust: Trust is the foundation of every successful collaboration. Building and maintaining trust with teammates, stakeholders, and customers has been a cornerstone of my Amazon journey. Dive Deep: Amazon encourages going deep into details to solve complex challenges. It's been a journey of deep dives, data-driven decisions, and a commitment to understanding the intricacies of our work. Frugality: Every resource matters at Amazon. I've learned the value of being resourceful, driving efficiency, and delivering results with a focus on long-term value. Bias for Action: Action powers Amazon's impact. I've thrived in an environment that values calculated risk-taking and understands that speed matters in every decision. Deliver Results: The ultimate measure of success is delivering results. I've celebrated wins, learned from failures, and understood the significance of delivering tangible outcomes. Cheers to 4 years of growth, challenges, and being a part of a culture that encourages bold thinking and embraces leadership at every level! Here's to many more years of innovation and customer-centric excellence at Amazon. 🚀 #ProudAmazonian #LeadershipPrinciples #4YearsAtAmazon 🎉

💡 Lessons from Amazon? Countless. Impact? Immeasurable. Over the course of my 4 impactful years at Amazon, I absorbed a wealth of knowledge, principles, and practices that have remained with me till this day. 📚 Working side by side with Joao Moita at Product Weekend, I have noticed just how much of these lessons have been ingrained in my work ethic. From the culture of 'disagree and commit' to the relentless pursuit of learning from every error, Amazon has left a great mark on my approach. One particular practice that stands out is writing a press release before launching any initiative. 💼 Why? Because it forces us to articulate our ideas better, makes it easy to gather invaluable feedback from peers and underlines the what success looks like, as well as risks. While there were areas I felt could be improved upon, my time at Amazon has shaped my vision for an ideal company setup - a space that fosters growth, innovation and a work environment that brings joy to both newcomers and veterans alike. As I reflect on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for having had the opportunity to learn, grow and shape my vision for a company that truly values its people. 🙏 #productmanagement #leadership #amazon #companyculture #innovation #growth

🚀 Embracing Amazon's Leadership Principles! 🚀 Amazonians, as you read through our core principles, take a moment to reflect on your journey here. How many situations come to mind where these values guided your actions and decisions? 1️⃣ **Customer Obsession**: Remember the times we put customers first, going above and beyond to meet their needs? 2️⃣ **Ownership**: How often have we taken complete ownership of our projects, acting as true leaders? 3️⃣ **Invent and Simplify**: Think of the innovative ideas and simplified solutions we’ve developed together. 4️⃣ **Are Right, A Lot**: Recall those moments when our strong judgment led us to make the right decisions. 5️⃣ **Learn and Be Curious**: The continuous learning and curiosity that drive our growth. 6️⃣ **Hire and Develop the Best**: Reflect on the talented individuals we’ve brought in and developed. 7️⃣ **Insist on the Highest Standards**: The unwavering commitment to excellence in everything we do. 8️⃣ **Think Big**: The ambitious goals and big dreams we’ve pursued. 9️⃣ **Bias for Action**: The decisive actions we’ve taken to move quickly and efficiently. 🔟 **Frugality**: How we’ve achieved more with less, creatively solving problems. 1️⃣1️⃣ **Earn Trust**: Building and maintaining trust with colleagues, partners, and customers. 1️⃣2️⃣ **Dive Deep**: The thoroughness and attention to detail in our work. 1️⃣3️⃣ **Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit**: The respectful disagreements that led to better decisions. 1️⃣4️⃣ **Deliver Results**: The tangible results we’ve delivered through focused effort. 1️⃣5️⃣ **Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer**: Our collective efforts to create a safe, productive, and diverse workplace. 1️⃣6️⃣ **Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility**: Using our scale for positive impact. These principles aren’t just words; they’re the foundation of our everyday actions and successes. How many times have these values shaped your Amazon story? 💡✨ #Leadership #Amazon #Reflect #CustomerObsession #ThinkBig #EarnTrust #DeliverResults #CareerGrowth #Excellence #AmazonLife

Amazon follows its Leadership Principles to the T, I just experienced it. As my friends from Amazon say, Amazon follows its leadership principles rigorously. As an Amazon customer, I just experienced it. So I had considerable amount in my Amazon Pay balance. It expired months ago and I noticed it just this week. I wasn't sure how to get it back. Spoke to my Amazon friends, they had no concrete answer but suggested to talk to the customer support. Hesitantly I called the customer support to check if there's a slightest chance of getting my balance back. I was hesitant, because it was a mistake from my side and hence didn't expect them to help. Throughout the call, customer support was so confident of getting back my balance. He asked few questions, gave me the confidence that things will be sorted out and in few hours, I received new gift cards from Amazon! Leadership Principle: Customer obsession! ✅ #amazon #customerobsession #productmanagement

Amazon’s Accountability Dilemma: What Happened This Week? This week, Amazon shareholders made headlines by rejecting key resolutions aimed at improving warehouse conditions and labor practices. Are we avoiding the hard truth about accountability? Is it time to confront the elephant in the room? Here’s why accountability matters and how to build it in your team: - Culture: Create an environment of clear expectations, open communication, and mutual trust. Without trust, accountability crumbles. - Lead by Example: Follow through on commitments, admit mistakes, and communicate openly. - Relationships: Build strong, trust-based relationships. Understanding both the person and the situation fosters accountability. Watch this 2-minute video where I explain these three crucial steps to embedding accountability in your team. If you’re ready to transform your team culture and make accountability a core value, check out our article for five actionable tips to get started. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dYjdTzSw Let’s not shy away from accountability. It’s time to make it our strength. ....and yes I know my eyes are weird, it was new glasses 🤓 #Leadership #TeamDynamics #Accountability #Amazon #Culture