AWS leadership transitions are dissected, discussing the lessons learned and new CEO Matt Garmin. They explore the importance of industry familiarity, leadership experience, and public image. The show delves into strategic decisions amidst competition and speculates on upcoming innovations.
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insights INSIGHT
The Burden Of Replacing A Legend
Stepping into a role after a legendary founder creates unrealistic expectations and high risk for the successor.
The podcast frames following a founder as one of the hardest leadership challenges in tech.
question_answer ANECDOTE
AWS Hired Outside Leadership In 2021
Andy Jassy left AWS to become Amazon CEO and AWS hired Adam Selipsky from outside the org as CEO.
The hosts note it was surprising AWS didn't promote internally for that role.
insights INSIGHT
What Boards Prioritize In CEO Hires
Boards balance industry familiarity, proven leadership, and cultural fit when choosing CEOs.
Selipsky checked boxes for both AWS and Amazon experience even though he came from outside AWS.
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After just three years, AWS is making another change at the top of the leadership org-chart. What lessons can we learn from leadership transitions and what might come next?
Adam Selipsky is out, Matt Garmin is in. What does it mean?
Why is AWS making the change now?
WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM SELIPSKY’S 3 YEARS AS AWS CEO
Probably don’t take the job immediately after someone is the Nick Saban of tech
Don’t be the complete opposite of the previous boss (wings guy vs. wine guy)
[Andy on X] Lead Amazon, married and father of two kids, big sports/music/film fan, experienced buffalo wings eater. Go Kraken!
[Adam on X] Husband & dad. Water skier/tennis player. Fan of Seahawks & Sounders. CEO at #AWS.
[Andy Jassy] I’ve always had a lot of respect for Adam, and we met several times to discuss the possibility of coming back to lead AWS. In those conversations, we agreed that if he accepted the role, he’d likely do it for a few years, and that one of the things he’d focus on during that time was helping prepare the next generation of leadership.
[Andy Jassy] Matt has an unusually strong set of skills and experiences for his new role. He’s very customer focused, a terrific product leader, inventive, a clever problem-solver, right a lot, has high standards and a meaningful bias for action.
Realize when your job is to lead and inspire vs. producing the weekly report
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