Ever wondered what it's really like to work at Amazon? In the first episode of our two-part season premiere, we sit down with Kristi Coulter, former Amazon executive and author of Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career. Kristi pulls back the curtain on the high-pressure, high-stakes culture inside one of the world's most influential companies. From the notorious Jeff Bezos question mark emails to the iconic six-pager memos that set the tone for every meeting, Kristi shares how she navigated the relentless pressure and constant ambiguity that define life at Amazon.
You can learn more about Kristi here and more about Surfing Corporate here.
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The podcast we referenced during the episode is It Gets Late Early.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview
01:29 Kristy Coulter's Career Journey and Decision to Join Amazon
08:13 First Impressions of Amazon's Work Culture
14:44 The Lifeboat Exercise: Ranking Employees
22:43 The Challenges of Working at Amazon
25:07 Changes in Amazon's Work Culture
25:46 High Turnover and Lack of Recognition
37:43 The Pressure to Do More
43:58 Unique Aspects of Amazon's Culture
46:48 The Stress of Question Mark Emails
48:31 Challenges Faced by Employees
48:37 The Power and Pitfalls of Six-Pagers
55:30 Lessons from Calista: Being Tough but Fair
01:00:24 Navigating the Brutal and Demanding Culture at Amazon
01:16:01 Promotions and Achievements at Amazon
01:21:16 The Sexist Culture at Amazon
01:26:34 Conforming to a Masculine Ideal
01:35:26 The Boozy Culture and Struggle with Alcohol
01:40:42 Addressing Gender Dynamics and Creating Inclusive Work Environments
01:41:30 From Viral Essay to Career Opportunities
01:43:13 Transformation and Lessons Learned at Amazon
01:46:21 Strong Bonds and Lasting Connections
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Show Credits:
Cohosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins
Producers: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins
Script, editing, music design: Aileen Merciel
Theme Song: Chaliwa Music
Other music: BlueDot Sessions
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