Bill Carr

Bill Carr, co-author of 'Working Backwards' and former Amazon executive, shares insights from over 15 years inside the tech giant. He explores the 'working backwards' methodology and how it prioritizes customer needs in product development. Carr discusses the value of 'single-threaded leaders' and Amazon's rigorous product review process. He emphasizes the 'disagree and commit' approach for better decision-making and illustrates how fostering a culture of risk-taking drives innovation. Additionally, he highlights unique hiring practices that improve success rates of new employees.

Colin Bryar and Bill Carr, former Amazon executives with 27 years of combined experience, dive into the secrets behind Amazon's innovative practices. They discuss the transformative shift from PowerPoint to narrative memos for clearer decision-making. The duo explores the 'invention machine' strategy that fueled Amazon's diverse success and the importance of a customer-centric approach in product development. They also highlight how patience and decentralized decision-making are essential for scaling within complex organizations.

Colin Bryar and Bill Carr, authors and former Amazon executives, unpack Amazon's innovative culture from their combined 27 years of experience. They discuss the power of six-page memos in meetings, which replace traditional PowerPoints, and the 'working backwards' approach to product development. The duo highlights how Amazon's leadership principles, customer obsession, and 'bare metal decision-making' foster agility. They also critique the reliance on minimum viable products and emphasize the PR FAQ method in shaping successful business models.

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we interviewed the former Amazon Digital Media VP, Bill Carr. Bill is the coauthor of Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon, an insider's breakdown of Amazon's approach to culture, leadership, and best practices from two long-time, top-level Amazon executives.  Bill Carr joined Amazon in 1999 and spent more than 15 years with the company. As the former Vice President of Digital Media, Bill launched and managed the company's global digital music and video businesses, including Amazon Music, Prime Video, and Amazon Studios. After Amazon, Bill was an Executive In Residence with Maveron LLC, an early-stage, consumer-only venture capital firm. Bill later served as the Chief Operating Officer of OfferUp, the largest mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers in the U.S. Today, Bill is the co-founder of Working Backwards LLC where he coaches executives at large and early-stage companies on how to implement the management practices developed at Amazon. Bill holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College and a Masters in Business Administration from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Get Bill’s book here: Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon. Bill Carr and Colin Bryar. Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Colin Bryar and Bill Carr, long-time Amazon executives, discuss their book 'Working Backwards' on the Chris Voss Show. They reveal Amazon's principles and practices, such as customer obsession and operational excellence, that drove its success. They also discuss the importance of understanding customers, analyzing ideas, and adapting Amazon's processes to different industries. Their book offers practical tips and advice for business leaders.