Sean Mullen’s Post

📚 My Book-Of-The-Month for October was "Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon" by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr, former Amazon executives that I overlapped with 📚 It wasn’t until I left Amazon in 2020 and spent 4 years at Google that I realized that all the things I took for granted and considered *common sense* at Amazon didn’t necessarily exist outside Amazon. Jeff is disciplined, so Amazon is disciplined. Jeff and the early s-team encoded a number of mechanisms to ensure Amazon’s core DNA would survive the massive scale that it faced: inspection mechanisms like WBR/MBR/QBR, planning mechanisms like OP1/OP2, hiring mechanisms like the Bar Raising program, and of course the crisp encoding of the Leadership Principles and their ubiquity in everyday life. For all of Amazon’s existence we operated on thin margins, so we needed that discipline and efficiency to survive. If you invented a time machine and transported the 2009 Carlos to 2024, he would recognize Amazon and feel right at home. Yes Amazon 2009 was more of an adolescent amazon and Amazon 2024 is more of a grown-up amazon but the core DNA is still very much there and recognizable. I truly believe that Amazon is an exceptional place to work - not because of the perks and pampering (hum, there's never been many of those LOL), but because of the environment around you. #bookofthemonth #carlosbookofthemonth

Over the years, I have found this framework, 6 steps for making big change, to be invaluable. The problems that matter most are those that no single person can solve, and getting buy-in from others through this kind of process is critical. So many engineers (and even managers and executives!) jump straight into problem solving. That's a formula for getting the wrong solution and even solving the wrong problem. Josie adds some superb insights into how to put the 6 steps into practice. Check it out!

Among virtually all tech companies, Amazon is the most notorious for having the hardest senior promotion, going from L5 (SDE 2) to L6 (SDE 3). It's so bad that around 65% of Amazon's engineering base is stuck at L5, and many engineers burn out and leave the company because of this. Diving into case studies from engineers who have succeeded in the promotion is therefore, extremely valuable. Later today, Bala will be sharing do's and dont's for getting to the lucrative Senior Engineer level in Big Tech. A sneak peek: - *Do* know the promo eligibility criteria and plan ahead for your feedback providers - *Don't* wait for the "right time" or ignore your org's goals. (This session will NOT be recorded in order to foster more conversation) https://lnkd.in/gvQ3jFZ2

Monday musing. An Amazonian strength is the speed at which we move. Bias for action means that first principles apply -> an object in motion will tend to stay in motion. With Amazon's mass, the momentum (p = mv) is a large number. Coupled with directional work guided by the principles of customer obsession and insisting on the highest standard, the aim is to share the responsibility of unlocking and unblocking opportunities and outcomes for customers at speed and scale.

As I celebrate 11 years with Amazon, I’ve reflected on some of the most valuable lessons I’ve gathered along the way. Here are 11 Lessons Learned 🚀: 1️⃣ Responding to Jeff’s “?” Email – One of the best learning experiences. That email travels faster than the speed of light! :) 2️⃣ Good Intentions Don’t Work; Mechanisms Do – Strong processes are what made Amazon what it is today. 3️⃣ Think Like Bezos – As one of my mentors always says: "You’re an owner, so always do the right thing for Amazon." 4️⃣ Deprecation vs. Building – Deprecating or decommissioning a service/system is more challenging and rewarding than building a new one. 5️⃣ Think 10x – Growth will outpace design unless you build with 10x scale in mind. 6️⃣ Data Doesn’t Lie – Opinions matter, but data matters more. Always follow the data. 7️⃣ Not Everything Is Rocket Science – While complex, most problems have already been solved elsewhere. Research and reuse as mush as possible. 8️⃣ You Own What You Own, and What You Don’t – "I sent them an email, but they didn’t respond" is never an acceptable excuse! 9️⃣ Writing Brings Clarity – No explanation needed. Just search "Amazon's Writing Culture." 🔟 A Bad Hire Is Bad for Everyone – Hiring someone who doesn’t meet the bar hurts their career as much as the company. 1️⃣1️⃣ There’s a Difference Between Scrappy and Crappy – Delivery and customer impact matter. Scrappy is fine, but never settle for crappy! #Leadership #GrowthMindset #KeyLearnings #CareerJourney

From Defeat to Victory: Failure Paves the Path to Success I wasn't shortlisted for the Amazon ML Summer School, and while it's a setback, I see it as a valuable learning experience. Every journey has its ups and downs. This rejection has taught me to be resilient, assess my skills, and stay motivated. It's a reminder that every "no" brings me closer to a "yes." Failure is not the end but a step towards success. Embrace it, learn from it, and keep moving forward. #FailureToSuccess #Resilience #DataScience #MachineLearning #CareerJourney #amazon Amazon

What's it like working at Amazon, on the inside? And how does it carry over into the rest of your life? Thanks for the insights Evan

My former classmate and Amazonian, Jorge Luis Pando, recently penned this reflective blog post after 7+ years at Amazon (no small feat 😅). Really good stuff here, and I especially love #2. *immediately subscribes to newsletter* “The Power of a Well-Written Doc: At Amazon, new roles are being created all the time, and I have been approached by many who think their job is pointless. I've seen them take four routes: (1) Complain to others, (2) Just do as they’re told, (3) Leave their team, (4) Demonstrate why they shouldn’t do what they’re told and suggest an alternative. Aim for #4. Write a 1-2 page document with data and anecdotes explaining why you should pivot and how it will benefit the team. Circulate it, get buy-in, and present it to the decision-maker. If it doesn’t work, consider #3, but *never* do #1 or #2”

I want to share an amazing experience from a session focused on Amazon's working culture and maintaining the right mindset on the job. It was an insightful session with Dipanshu Dabas, an SD1 at Amazon. He shared his invaluable experience, knowledge, mindset, routine, and many other useful tips that are essential for both personal and professional growth. A big thanks to Mr. Dipanshu and Mr. Chirag Jain for organizing such a fantastic session. #CodeTalk #AmazonLife #TechCulture #MindsetMatters #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #LifeAtAmazon #TechCommunity #PersonalGrowth #Inspiration #LearningJourney #CareerTips