Ajay Soni’s Post

Today I came across a line I've read a dozen times in my onboarding Amazon Web Services (AWS) Product Marketing and I may just put it on a sticky note at my desk. I believe it's relevant to any business, organization, or role that wants to push for innovation for customers: "Be curious and be ambitious: There are no dumb questions and nothing is sacred or off limits. Think like an owner and dive deep into problem areas or untapped opportunities. It’s very likely that you will come across some important, fundamental things that we aren’t doing today. Sometimes these may be things that you or your team should solve and sometimes we need to influence or encourage other owners to drive them. In addition, dive deep. Know your area inside out. You’ll be in meetings with where you’ll need to be 'fingertippy' on the details of your business. Delegate but stay close to the details with your team." I don't know who wrote this and I cannot share the link. Curiosity and Ambition. Wow. It's not hard to have that a few days in, but everyday year after year, that's what makes the difference for customers. How are you keeping the passion for what you do and how you do it "afresh" day after day? Would love to hear your thoughts. #AlwaysDay1 #LeadershipPrinciples at Amazon

It seems like yesterday when I joined Amazon 5 years ago. It was a splendid journey of learning and growth both personally and professionally. The first month I joined, it seemed like I am going through a religion change. Everything I was used to was not ideal way of working within Amazon. One key example, Use narrative documents instead of powerpoint presentations and what not. I not only matured as an engineer but also got opportunity to try out becoming leader for engineers. Amazon is not for everyone and challenges you day in day out, but that is the fun part working with smart people. Personally, I have grown tremendously in articulation, business writing, influencing down and up and thinking big to break boundaries of defined charter/roadmap. It would never be possible without my super talented and hard working team who always believed in the vision and helped me forcemultiply myself. I could earn trust of my peers, directs and leadership to achieve goals which were not even tagged to this team. Super proud of what we all could achieve. Marking my 5-year milestone at Amazon, I reflect on a transformative journey filled with learning and impact. Key takeaways include: - Customer Obsession: Putting customers first drives innovation - Culture of Innovation: Embracing the "Day 1" mentality - Leadership Principles: Ownership and bias for action are crucial - Continuous Learning: Adapting to rapid changes in tech and markets - Global Collaboration: Working with diverse teams worldwide - Scale and Complexity: Solving problems at unprecedented scale - Data-Driven Decisions: Using metrics to drive improvements - Sustainability: Balancing business goals with social responsibility Looking ahead, I'm excited to: - Continue innovating in my field - Develop further leadership skills - Contribute to Amazon's customer-centric mission Grateful for the growth these five years have brought. Here's to the next chapter of innovation and customer-focused solutions! #AmazonLife #5YearAnniversary #ProfessionalGrowth #Innovation #rohitsharma #leadership #forcemultiply The image is of orange Amazon badge that you get on completing 5 years and I am feeling honored and inspired with this recognition! (Captured in a way that the blue badge is blurred while focus is now on the orange badge)

After a little over 3 years, it was time to turn in my badge at Amazon. I'm grateful to my colleagues, customers, and partners who made this journey fulfilling, joyful, and full of valuable lessons. I cherish my experience working with so many dedicated, brilliant, and customer-obsessed builders across all the organizations I had the privilege of collaborating with. 🙏🏽 AWS is an inspirational place to innovate. It is Day 1 at Amazon, and organizations big and small have much to learn from its culture and people. Much has been said about Amazon's practices and peculiarities. But I want to share what I have found most insightful about operating a business the Amazonian way. Here's a unique perspective that I hope you may find valuable: 🔑 Principled Decision-Making Cuts Down on Debilitating Politics During my onboarding, I saw the sheepish repetition of "Leadership Principles" at every metaphorical corner I turned. Within the first three months, however, I grew an appreciation for how much of the decision-making is moderated by these principles. They were not just empty words on walls. They represented a vibrant evaluation framework for decision-making based on the first principles of running the business in an Amazonian way. This insight finally dawned on me when I noticed how much people did NOT reference "authority" – theirs or that of the chain of command – in their day-to-day decision-making. Instead, they debated which principle applied more to the situation. Amazon has plenty of politics, like any other large organization. But the leadership principles cut through much of the politics that debilitates a typical enterprise. My point here isn't for all to adopt Amazon's principles – although they are a fine bunch. Rather, come up with your own, and stick to acting on them every day. There are other lessons, like this, which I hope to share in due time. But for now, it's time to get back to building. Details of what I'm working on and the talented team of co-founders I am lucky to share this journey with will come in a future post. #Amazon #AWS #LeadershipPrinciples #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Day1

Blue Badge Turned Orange - Marking My 5th Year with Amazon! It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m deeply grateful for all I’ve learned and accomplished over the past five years. Reflecting on this experience, I can’t help but think of the Leadership Principles that have shaped both my personal and professional growth. "Learn and Be Curious" has always been my favourite. From day one, I’ve believed that the most meaningful growth comes from asking questions, embracing new perspectives, and staying open to continuous learning. At Amazon, this mindset has helped me expand my skills, discover innovative solutions, and consistently strive for improvement. "Dive Deep" has taught me the value of truly understanding the full picture—never settling for surface-level answers but digging into the details that drive success. Meanwhile, "Ownership" has empowered me to take full responsibility for my work and its outcomes. It’s helped me prioritize what’s best for the business and customers, always driving decisions that lead to growth and impact. One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is Amazon's unwavering "Customer Obsession." I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how leaders consistently start with the customer and work backward to deliver the best solutions. This has taught me to always keep the customer at the forefront of every decision I make. As I look ahead, I’m excited for what’s to come and incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. Here’s to more growth, innovation, and continued success! It's Still Day One! Subhashree #Amazon #5thAnniversary #LeadershipPrinciples #CustomerObsession #Workbackwards #LearnAndBeCurious #DiveDeep #Ownership #DeliverResults #Anniversary #Gratitude #Growth

🥂 Celebrating 2 Incredible Years at AWS! Two years ago today, I embarked on an exciting journey with Amazon Web Services (AWS), and what a journey it has been! A journey defined by collaboration, #innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. In my role supporting #global #automotive and #manufacturing #customers, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside some of the industry’s brightest minds, driving impactful solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Throughout this time, two Amazon Leadership Principles - #CustomerObsession and #DeliverResults - have been central to my approach. These principles have consistently guided my decisions and actions, enabling me to deliver meaningful outcomes for our customers and stakeholders. I’m particularly proud to be part of an organization that aspires to be the #WorldsBestEmployer. My involvement in the #WomenAtAWS community has been especially rewarding, offering the opportunity to connect with and learn from a diverse group of leaders committed to empowering others and fostering an inclusive culture. I'm grateful for the amazing colleagues, mentors, and customers who have been part of this adventure. Your support and inspiration continue to fuel my passion for what we do. Looking ahead, I am energized by the opportunities and challenges that lie before us. Together, we will continue to pioneer innovations that set new standards for our industry, while steadfastly pursuing our mission of #CustomerSuccess and #OperationalExcellence. Here’s to the future, and to continuing this journey of #leadership and #impact. P.S. And, yes, I used #AmazonBedrock to generate the image for this post. #AWS #WomenInTech #CloudCareer #WorkAnniversary

2 years at Amazon: Lessons that changed my approach to work As I mark two years with Amazon, I’ve had the privilege of learning, growing, and evolving. Here are a few key lessons I’ve picked up along the way that I believe can also benefit my LinkedIn connections: 1️⃣ There’s no such thing as a “Stupid” question: Even the smallest question can ignite valuable conversations or uncover important insights. Don’t hold back! 2️⃣ Knowledge is your superpower: The more you learn, the more confident and impactful you become. Never stop growing. 3️⃣ Collaboration is everything: No one succeeds alone. Learn from your team, stay humble, and always be someone others can count on. 4️⃣ Ownership means more than just fixing: Solving a problem is only step one. Dive deep, eliminate the root cause, and create lasting solutions. 5️⃣ Documentation is gold: Don’t just document what’s necessary—capture even the obvious. It saves time and avoids confusion in the future. 6️⃣ Admit when you’re wrong, fast: We all make mistakes. Own them quickly, learn from them, and share the lesson. People value honesty over perfection. 🤝Always grateful for my amazing team at Amazon Ads and the experiences I’ve had. Excited for what lies ahead. Here’s to continued growth! 🥂 Hope this helps 🤞

Disclaimer: If you spot echoes of Blue Box Values and Amazon's Leadership Principles in my story, it's not by accident. I first encountered Blue Box Values when I joined American Express, and they quickly became part of my DNA. Before I joined Amazon, I stumbled upon their Leadership Principles. They resonated with me and my partner as we tackled new challenges without traditional role models or family support. Principles like ownership, frugality, earning trust, and disagreeing and committing (a lifesaver for avoiding conflicts for 25 years) have been our guiding stars. Now, here’s the scoop: Data Science has always been my passion. In 2021, I was thrilled to complete a Masters Program in Data Science. But that was just the start. I craved a deeper grasp of service delivery, community support, diversity, and doing right by our customers. This led me to continuously upskill with certifications like Black Belt and Agile Scrum. In July 2023, I set out on an audacious mission: to complete four more Masters Programs by the end of 2024: Masters Program in Artificial Intelligence Masters Program in Digital Project Management Masters Program in DevOps Masters Program in Cloud Architecture I had three years, but I challenged myself to do it in one and a half. It was tough, but my bias for action kept me going. My mental model was – knowledge of full-stack is required with deep understanding of processes and technology to lead and win as a team. I carefully planned my schedule, balancing study with well-deserved breaks. And guess what? I’m excited to share that I was right a lot in my planning. I delivered results and completed my goals with a day to spare. I'm excited to share my educational milestone! #BlueBoxValues #AmericanExpress #AmazonLeadershipPrinciples #DataSciencePassion #ContinuousLearning #Leadership #Team #BackOurCustomers #EmbraceDiversity #RespectPeople #LearnAndBeCurious #DoWhat’sRight #WinAsaTeam #WeSupportOurCommunities #ServiceDeliveryLeader #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalProjectManagement #DevOps #CloudArchitecture #BiasForAction #DeliverResults #Frugality #CustomerObsession #AreRightaLot #EarnTrust #ThinkBig #Ownership #HaveBackboneDisagreeAndCommit

In Amazon lingo, 1,825 Day Ones and counting; but for the rest of the world, I have been blessed enough to achieve the coveted gold badge that signifies 5 years with the organization, and what a ride it has been! Amazon scooped me up during very uncertain times and supplied me with a warm home, 2 beautiful children, a *second* Black Belt certification, my ideal career path, and more NOS than I could possibly quantify. What have I learned in these 5 years? - Take a stake in the development of each relationship that unfolds; whether it is to nurture, construct, as a pupil, or to cultivate, it is all the more meaningful by the actions you take - Be bold and take calculated risks; if the juice is worth the squeeze, then there's a never an inopportune time to make lemonade (or, insert choice of flavor juice drink ______ here) - Ambiguity can be a very good thing; Embrace it and there's no telling what it may lead to. If you don’t have a north-star, and are not sure directionally where to go, create one - Indecision is worse than making a poor decision; Never 'do nothing'; make a plan and execute. - Stand firm in your principles, but allow enough flexibility in your viewpoint as there is always something new to be learned #amazon #amazonvestlife #fulfillment #AMZL #deliveringsmiles

Celebrating 2,555 Day 1s of Innovation and Growth at AWS! Today marks my 7th anniversary at Amazon Web Services, and what an incredible journey it's been! From my first day as Head of Central America and the Caribbean to my current role as Managing Director of NOLA (North of Latin America), every step has been filled with learning, growth, and inspiration. At AWS, we embrace the Day 1 philosophy - always staying nimble, making swift decisions, and focusing relentlessly on our customers. This mindset has been a guiding light throughout my journey. Amazon's Leadership Principles have shaped my approach to business and life. Customer Obsession, Ownership, Earn Trust, Insist on the Highest Standards, and Deliver Results aren't just words - they're the foundation of our success.  My AWS Journey: • Country Manager of Central America and the Caribbean • Regional Head of NOLA • Managing Director of AGS NOLA. Each role has presented unique challenges and opportunities, allowing me to contribute to the digital transformation of our region. None of this would be possible without my incredible team. Your dedication, creativity, and relentless pursuit of excellence inspire me every day. Thank you for your hard work and for making AWS a fantastic place to innovate and work. Paula Bellizia Daniel Saldarriaga Karla Wong Juan Pablo Rincon Montes Carla Ciperski Luis Marrero Carolina Pina Americo de Paula e Silva Junior Lisa Rossi Helmuth Cepeda Fabrício Magnoni Do Rego Ezequiel As we continue to innovate and grow, I'm excited about the future we're building together. The cloud revolution, including technologies like Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), is just beginning, and we're at the forefront of our industry, empowering businesses and individuals across Latin America to dream bigger and achieve more. Here's to many more years of innovation, growth, and success! Let's keep pushing boundaries and transforming the digital landscape of our region. Today, after 7 amazing years as an Amazonian, we continue working hard, having fun, and making history. It remains Day 1!  #AWS #CloudComputing #Innovation #Leadership #LatinAmerica #AI #GenAI #Amaversary #customerobsession  

"🎉 A proud moment as we conclude our Amazon Mastery Training with this incredible group of dedicated professionals! 🚀 Together, we've unlocked new skills, explored growth strategies, and built a foundation for Amazon business success. Here's to a future filled with achievements and milestones! 🌟 #AmazonTraining #MasteryAchieved #SuccessJourney"