I'm on my way out after a year because I can't stand the culture and the people that this culture breeds, so take my review with a grain of salt:
- It's a matter of time before this company implodes or becomes obsolete.
- What keeps most people around is the compensation. Significant part of the compensation comes from the stocks, so the only way for this company to grow is to grow. Growth pumping up the stock prices and stock prices attracting more talented people is the fundamental force that feeds the fly wheel and keeps Amazon growing.
- New products and services come to fruition by simply brute-forcing; throwing money and people at it until it sticks. Initial success rate is low, but as long as the company has money it eventually gets some place.
-Given a similar opportunity elsewhere, a lot of the competent and talented people would jump ship and the stock prices would stumble. Once the stock price stagnates or dips, the feedback loop will start working against the flywheel, putting it at a halt faster than it made it spin.
- If you care about your work and making a meaningful difference in peoples lives, I don't believe you will find the experience of working here enjoyable as a leader.
- If you are driven by gaining and exercising power, join the company while you can, because people who do the work and care about the work are bound to leave in a heart beat when the time comes.
