Jeff Wilke, former CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer and chairman of Re:Build Manufacturing, shares his insights from over two decades at Amazon. He discusses the incremental journey behind Amazon Prime's explosive growth and the grit necessary for leadership. Reflecting on Amazon's holiday crisis in 2000, he highlights teamwork and clear principles. Wilke also delves into the challenges and strategies behind the Whole Foods acquisition, and how direct interaction with frontline workers refines mental models. His perspective underscores the importance of resilience and continuous improvement in operations.

Former Amazon CEO Jeff Wilke discusses the drivers behind Amazon's success, focusing on mechanisms, single-page culture, and single-threaded invention. They also touch on leadership principles, writing culture, and the importance of operational excellence for long-term success.