Mahwish Khan’s Post

I’m thrilled to share that my journey at Amazon has been nothing short of amazing! From the moment I joined, I’ve been immersed in a dynamic environment that challenges and inspires me every day. 🔍 Highlights of My Time at Amazon: Innovative Projects: Worked on groundbreaking projects that pushed the boundaries of technology and customer experience. Collaboration & Growth: Collaborated with some of the brightest minds in the industry and developed skills that I’m excited to carry forward. Customer Focus: Embraced Amazon’s customer-centric culture, striving to deliver exceptional value and service. 💡 Key Takeaways: Adaptability: Embracing change and learning quickly in a fast-paced environment. Leadership: Developing a strong sense of ownership and leading with a vision. Teamwork: The power of collaboration and diverse perspectives in driving innovation. I’m grateful for the incredible opportunities and experiences at Amazon. Looking forward to continuing to grow and contribute to this amazing team. Stay tuned for more updates as I embark on new adventures! #Amazon #CareerJourney #Innovation #Teamwork #Leadership

10 years! Or 3,653 Day 1s! Last week, I was humbled by the congratulatory messages from my colleagues as I celebrated a decade at Amazon. It felt surreal for a restless soul like me and wouldn’t have been possible without the myriad of opportunities generously provided by inspiring leaders throughout this journey. Anyone who has worked at Amazon knows the indelible mark it leaves on your approach to work. While a brief post can only scratch the surface, my biggest take away has been the role and importance of Culture. I often liken it to Antibodies - that act as an invisible gatekeeper and when nurtured properly; become a force multiplier across the organization. As a leader, there is no greater responsibility than shaping, preserving, and reinforcing this culture. At Amazon, we call it Day 1! This philosophy has become a guiding principle, not only in my professional endeavors but in every facet of life — from relationships and fitness to travel and skills development - approaching any domain with the curiosity and passion of how you interacted with it on Day 1. Also, one delightful side effect of embracing Day 1 culture is bidding farewell to the Monday blues. Every day remains an opportunity for new beginnings and fresh perspectives. After all, every day is Day 1! Here's to a decade of growth, learning, and embracing the spirit of Day 1. 🚀 #AmazonAnniversary #Day1Culture 

Amazon is a challenging place to work. Also a uniquely exciting one to develop a career. It has such a strong focus on maintaining a very differentiated culture, a set of #principles that enable amazing speed, ownership and innovation that sometimes (often even) it really makes people behave in ways that we are not used to in our past corporate experience. It is a polarizing place. You love it or you hate it. It is not a place where you can just switch on/off on Mondays & Fridays. If you do not “embody” the way of working, it will eat you alive. But boy, how much fun it can be if you learn how to ride the beast! Reading “Exit Interview” by Kristi Coulter has made me re-experience my first 5 years in the company, and the difficult yet obvious decision to leave at some point. It has also made me reflect and deep dive on why I decided to come back after 3 years away. I love the working culture of Amazon, because of what it enables me to achieve, to learn and to grow as a professional. From all the opinions in the book, the one I totally agree with and want to actively work to change is the lack of diversity and promotion of strong women to make the company less of a boy’s club, alpha-led environment. I’ve been very lucky to know probably one of the strongest women in Amazon from my very first day in 2016, when I joined Kara Hartnett Hurst sustainability team. I am now also very lucky to work for an amazing expert and leader such as Lindsay McQuade. But we still need to do much more to have a leadership that is representative of our customers, diverse and inclusive. #Diversity #WomenLeadership #Change #Principles #Values

Today marks the end of an incredible chapter! After seven enriching years at Amazon, filled with growth, learning, and unforgettable experiences, it's time for me to bid farewell to this remarkable journey. When I joined Amazon on February 13, 2017, I embarked on a voyage that transcended mere employment—it became a transformative part of my life. Over the years, I had the privilege of embracing four distinct roles within this dynamic ecosystem, each offering unique challenges and opportunities. Amazon's legendary Day 1 culture has been my guiding light, instilling in me the relentless pursuit of innovation, the courage to embrace ambiguity, and the unwavering commitment to deliver results that matter. The customer-centric ethos ingrained in every aspect of our work has fundamentally shaped my mindset, fostering a deep-seated understanding of "Customer Obsession" as not just a principle, but a way of life. Reflecting on this journey, I'm profoundly grateful for the incredible colleagues who have been my mentors, collaborators, and friends. Together, we've tackled challenges head-on, celebrated victories, and forged bonds that transcend the confines of the workplace. Your passion, dedication, and shared pursuit of excellence have been the cornerstone of our collective success. Our paths may diverge, but the indelible imprint of our time together will forever remain. As I bid farewell, I carry with me invaluable lessons and experiences that will continue to shape my path ahead. Here's to new beginnings, continued growth, and the enduring bonds forged through shared experiences. Farewell, Amazon—it's been an honor and a privilege. #Amazon #LeadershipPrinciples #Day1Culture #CustomerObsession #Grateful #NewBeginnings

🌟 Celebrating Three Years at Amazon 🌟 On November 8th marked three years since I joined Amazon, and it’s been an incredible journey of growth, resilience, and learning. Moving to a new city and embracing change has taught me so much about myself, my goals, and the power of adaptability. Being away from family has deepened my appreciation for my roots, and I’ve realized that I’m most fulfilled when I have clear goals and direction, always striving to go above and beyond. Reflecting on these years, here are the top ten things I’ve learned at Amazon: 1. Leadership Principles in Action: Amazon’s Leadership Principles aren’t just words; they guide decisions, help us grow, and inspire us to deliver results. 2. Embrace Change, Never Settle: Change is constant here, and I’ve learned to keep pushing for innovation and improvement every day. 3. Think Big: At Amazon, I’ve learned no goal is too ambitious if we start with the customer and work backward. 4. Dive Deep: I’ve become comfortable exploring details to solve issues that drive both short- and long-term success. 5. Taking Risks and Learning Fast: I’ve been encouraged to take bold steps and make decisions quickly. Each experience adds value and insight. 6. Expanding My Scope - Recruiting in LATAM: Being asked to recruit in LATAM was a new challenge, teaching me the importance of cultural understanding and broadening my perspective. 7. Writing as a Core Skill: Clear, concise writing drives alignment and transparency, and I’ve embraced it as a powerful tool for impact. 8. Seek Diverse Perspectives: Working here has shown me how diversity in thought and background enhances every project. 9. Be Obsessed with the Customer: This principle drives us to exceed expectations and deliver true value. 10. Never Stop Learning: Amazon has taught me the importance of staying curious and embracing every chance to grow. I’m grateful for the colleagues I’ve met along the way and for the relationships that will stay with me wherever I go. Here’s to many more years of growth, challenges, and impact at Amazon! 🚀 #Amazon #Leadership #CareerJourney #Growth #Learning #Positivity #LatinosAtAmaxon #glamazon #PXT

Last Tuesday marked my 6th anniversary at Amazon! From Day One, it’s been a journey filled with growth, challenges, and unforgettable experiences. I’m incredibly grateful for the remarkable people, inspiring leaders, and innovative projects that have shaped my path here. In classic Amazonian fashion, I’d like to share some data to put things in perspective: - I’m now more tenured than 88% of all Amazonians and 97% of the team in Mexico. - I’ve had the privilege of working with 5 outstanding managers and learning from 3 incredible mentors. - I was part of launching a global project/startup, which required me to build a world class team from scratch (185+ interviews to date). Today, I’m fortunate to work with an amazing group of smart, driven, and genuinely good people. One of my proudest achievements is having promoted 9 exceptional Amazonians, who continue to make a significant impact within my team and the wider International Expansions organization. To commemorate this milestone, I’d like to share 5 key lessons I’ve learned: 1) Leadership Principles: Every company should have its own set of Leadership Principles (aka. values, guiding principles, etc.). At Amazon, our 16 LP's guide decision-making, hiring, evaluations, and strategy. It’s now tough to live my personal life without considering these principles. 2) Communication: Effective communication (both written and verbal) is crucial for thriving as a leader. 3) Data and Mechanisms: Having data and the ability to analyze it is essential, but equally important is building the right mechanisms with your team to review, analyze, and make decisions based on that data. 4) Team: Building an amazing team around you is key. Leave your ego at the door and surround yourself with people who are smarter and complement your unique skills. 5) Risk and Failure: Embrace risks and fail fast. Own your failures, protect your team, learn from your mistakes, and build mechanisms to prevent similar failures in the future. Here’s to many more years of growth and innovation! #AmazonAnniversary #Day1 #ItsStillDay1 #InternationalExpansions #DIP

In 2022, I returned to Amazon after a brief stint at Zwift. Now, as a Principal Engineer taking on my biggest challenge yet, here's what I've experienced and learned: 🚀 Key reflections: ‣ Amazon's Leadership Principles remain the backbone of how we work. They continue to guide our decisions and actions daily, proving their enduring value. ‣ In Operations and Robotics, I dove deep into large-scale federated simulation and witnessed groundbreaking logistics technology. The innovation in this space is truly pushing boundaries. ‣ Despite turbulence in the tech industry, I've experienced stability at Amazon. However, I recognize this as a privilege earned through decades of hard work - a reality not everyone in tech has enjoyed recently. ‣ Lateral mobility at Amazon is powerful. I recently moved from Operations and Robotics to the US Prime and Marketing Tech team, reporting to a VP with an SVP as my skip-level. It's the biggest scope and responsibility of my career - both daunting and invigorating. ‣ This mobility keeps managers accountable: you must work hard to keep employees challenged and fulfilled, or they'll find a manager who will. ‣ My work-life balance and high level of autonomy have remained consistent throughout, unaffected by return-to-office mandates (a benefit of the demand for Principal Engineers). ‣ Taking on this new role in US Prime and Marketing Tech is the biggest challenge of my career. It's a testament to the growth opportunities available at Amazon for those willing to step out of their comfort zone. Returning to Amazon was the right choice for me. The chance to work on cutting-edge technology, move between teams, and maintain autonomy in my work has been incredibly rewarding. While I'm excited about my personal journey, I'm also mindful of the complex challenges facing the broader tech industry. As I look ahead, I'm energized by the scope of my new role and the impact I hope to make. Here's to continuous learning and growth, wherever your career takes you. What's your experience navigating career moves in today's sometimes crazy tech landscape? How do you balance stability with new challenges? And, how can I help you??? Curious about the full story? Check out the link in the first comment for the blog post. #CareerGrowth #TechIndustry #PrincipalEngineer #Amazon #AmazonCulture

Comfort is the enemy of your destiny. Read that again and really let it resonate. One of my team members said this to me back in 2019 and it's stuck with me ever since - literally via a sticky note on my desk. This phrase was the anchor of my decision to change roles, from a business and team that I love, and move to London to begin a new chapter at Amazon leading PXT (aka Human Resources) for our corporate teams across Europe. The photo below was taken just last week as we embarked on our annual team summit- and it was amazing! But why? Why leave a dream job? Because there is more to learn. Why leave an incredible team? Because there is more talent to inspire and be inspired by. Why leave a great business? Because there is more to deliver. I won't do any of this on my own, but I'm excited to begin this new journey both personally and professionally. Change and uncertainty is where real growth happens and where you unlock new capabilities in yourself and others around you. I feel so fortunate to have the support of my colleagues and most importantly my family as I chart these new waters and hopefully unlock growth in all of them. So, let's take the good days with the troubled ones and lean into the ambiguity of what's before us. Even after all my years at #Amazon, it's still Day 1.

🌟 Celebrating 6 Months at Amazon! 🌟 Today marks my six-month anniversary as an Operations Manager at Amazon, and I couldn't be more proud of the journey so far! Reflecting on these past months, I've had the opportunity to work with some incredibly dedicated teams, drive impactful changes, and grow immensely as a leader. Key highlights of my journey: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀: I've had the privilege of working alongside some of the hardest-working people in the industry. Seeing them tackle challenges with resilience and positivity has been incredibly inspiring. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: We've made strides in streamlining operations to boost productivity and reduce inefficiencies, all while maintaining high safety and quality standards. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: A key part of my role has been to foster a work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. In operations, where the demands are high, building morale and encouraging open communication has been crucial. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Helping team members grow, learn new skills, and reach their full potential has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my role. Being a leader in operations isn’t just about managing metrics; it’s about empowering people, fostering a supportive culture, and making sure each team member knows the value they bring. I’m grateful for the chance to make a difference each day. Looking forward to more growth and success in the months to come! #Amazon #OperationsManagement #Leadership #Anniversary #Teamwork #BOI2 Attached, is a photo when in Seattle visiting the Spheres of Amazon while onboarding! One of these days I’ll get a picture at my home site!

After an incredible journey of 9 long years, it’s time for me to say goodbye to Amazon. Reflecting on my time here, I’m filled with gratitude for the experiences, lessons, and the amazing people I’ve had the privilege to work with. The “Day 1” philosophy wasn’t just a motto; it was a mindset that permeated every aspect of the organization. Every day felt like the first, filled with innovation, customer obsession, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. This environment challenged me to think big, move fast, and constantly seek new ways to delight customers. The Leadership Principles at Amazon have profoundly impacted my personal and professional growth. Here are a few that particularly resonated with me: ✨ Customer Obsession: This principle taught me to always start with the customer and work backwards. It’s a powerful approach that has helped me better understand and address customer needs, ensuring that every decision and action is aligned with delivering the best possible experience. ✨ Bias for Action: Amazon’s fast-paced environment encouraged me to make decisions quickly and confidently. It taught me the importance of taking calculated risks, being proactive, and not being afraid of failure. This mindset has empowered me to drive initiatives forward and achieve results swiftly. ✨ Earn Trust: Building trust with colleagues, partners, and customers is paramount. Through transparency, integrity, and reliability, I’ve learned the importance of fostering trust-based relationships, which are essential for collaboration and success. ✨ Dive Deep: Amazon’s emphasis on diving deep into data and details has sharpened my analytical skills and taught me the value of understanding the intricacies of any situation. This principle has equipped me to make well-informed decisions and provide thorough insights. To everyone that I've crossed path with here at Amazon, I am immensely proud of the work we’ve accomplished together, from launching groundbreaking products and initiatives to improving customer experiences. The camaraderie and support from you all have made this journey truly special. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this chapter – your guidance, friendship, and inspiration have been instrumental in shaping my career. Here’s to new beginnings and continued growth! 🥂 #Amazon #Day1 #LeadershipPrinciples #Gratitude #NewBeginnings