Amazon Employee Spotlight: Robert G.

Q&A Series featuring: Robert Garland, Manager, Business Intelligence - Vendor Management Services @Amazon

Q: What's the most exciting part of your role?

A: My team engineers the data behind and leads the business reviews at Amazon. Getting to be the data creators and interpreters at a data driven company like Amazon is incredible responsibility, our department’s performance depends on the services our team provides.

 Q: What makes your team unique to Amazon?

 A: Our team was created as the next phase of an existing program. Being able to launch a program which already has several years worth of data allows our team to be the first to analyze it and identify the areas of most value and where we can go next.

 Q: You moved from the biotech industry into a retail tech company. What drove that decision?

 A: Being a crucial part of world's largest marketplace and the next generation of retail always intrigued me. I have always had a passion for data and being able to use data to make impactful decisions at a customer obsessed company at such a large scale has provided the opportunity to be a key driver of future of BI at Amazon.

 Q: What do you like most about Amazon?

 A: We have an incredible culture of development- very conducive for people looking to challenge themselves and continuously grow.

 Q: What is something fun about your team?

A: We are active members of SeaTUG (Seattle Tableau Users Group). It's exciting to be able to work on data visualizations in the city where Tableau was founded. There’s such an incredible community of data visualization professionals that the path to rapid development in tools like Tableau is paved by the group’s experience.

Q: What is the best team event you’ve had?

A: There’s not many workplaces where you can combine your Taco Tuesdays with a joint dog birthday party for Layla, Lando, and Lexi. Being able to bring your dog to work to be celebrated is certainly unique to Amazon!