Amazon’s success is predicated on constant innovation, so leaders there have deeply embedded it into their business culture. In this episode, we hear from three high-level Amazon executives, each one encouraging innovative mindsets in different ways. They reveal their teams’ latest innovations, and their own leadership philosophies that keep their teams on the cutting edge.
BIOS:
Udit Madan, VP of Worldwide Operations, oversees fulfillment, transportation, and last-mile delivery operations. Udit joined Amazon in 2008 as a Software Development Engineer, building technology to automate and scale the company’s fulfillment network. Over the years, he has led numerous R&D initiatives, introducing robotics and automated control systems. In 2015, he transitioned to the Last Mile Technology team, where he developed key programs for Amazon’s delivery services. Udit also played a crucial role in Amazon’s COVID-19 operations response. He earned degrees in Computer Science and Economics from the University of Texas and was born and raised in India before moving to the U.S. in 2004.
Jamil Ghani, VP of Worldwide Prime, leads Amazon Prime globally, overseeing product, technology, marketing, decision science, operations, and finance teams that drive the membership’s growth and success. Under his leadership, Prime membership has tripled, and per-member spending has doubled, with new benefits added across categories such as healthcare, grocery, and food delivery. Before joining Amazon in 2017, Jamil was Senior Vice President of Enterprise Strategy, Digital & Innovation at Target, where he played a key role in revitalizing Target.com and launching new customer experiences. Jamil also held leadership roles at The Walt Disney Company, General Mills, and The Boston Consulting Group. He holds a BA in Economics and Computer Science from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was named a Baker Scholar.
Sarah Rhoads, VP of Workplace Health & Safety, oversees Amazon’s global health and safety programs, managing a team of over 9,000 professionals dedicated to the well-being of more than 1 million employees. Sarah joined Amazon in 2011 as an Operations Manager and has since held various leadership roles, including Director of Amazon Air. In her role at Amazon Air, she built the company’s air-haul network from scratch, growing it into a global operation with nearly 100 aircraft. A former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, Sarah flew F/A-18 jets and completed over 250 carrier landings. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master’s in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.