The Road to an Amazon Career: My Choice, the Company, and the Journey - Radha Saikhedkar Program Manager

Radha Saikhedkar recently joined Amazon about a month ago, and by all accounts she has been thoroughly enjoying the experience so far. Radha started as a Program Manager for the Air vertical within the larger TESS team. Her team is responsible for creating, managing, and continuously improving the package flow and deliveries for Amazon customers throughout North America.

In discussing her experience at Amazon, Radha touches on a few key aspects. She highlights the company's leadership principles and how they have shaped the inspiring and motivated environment she now works in. Radha also reflects on her experience navigating the recruiting and onboarding process, which she feels has helped prepare her for the demands of her current role. Additionally, Radha speaks to the work-life balance she has been able to maintain, noting that despite the high-intensity nature of her work, it never quite feels like "just work."

Based on your recent experience being hired by Amazon, what guidance would you provide to an individual currently progressing through their hiring process?

Based on my recent experience being hired by Amazon, the key guidance I would provide to someone currently progressing through the hiring process is to deeply understand and embody the company's leadership principles.

When I was preparing for my own interviews, I took the time to thoroughly read about and internalize these principles. What I found is that they aren't just abstract concepts they are instrumental philosophies that are truly ingrained in the day-to-day mindset of Amazonians. These principles are akin to valuable life skills that most people use in their everyday lives, but at Amazon they coalesce into a powerful, cohesive culture.

To anyone navigating the Amazon hiring process right now, I would stress the importance of being able to clearly articulate how you exemplify these leadership principles. You need to be ready to provide specific examples of when, where, and how you have applied them, and most importantly, you must be able to demonstrate the measurable impact they have had.

The leadership principles are essentially a blueprint for the Amazon culture. To thrive in this high-energy, fast-paced environment, you have to not only understand them, but also show that you have fully adopted and cultivated them. This mindset is key to succeeding as an Amazonian, so I would encourage candidates to make it a central focus during their preparation and interviews.

What brings you passion/excitement to your role and team?

Since joining Amazon, I have become fully immersed in and embraced the company's core "Customer Obsessed" mindset. Our team is driven by an unwavering commitment to fulfill the promise we make to Amazon's customers. Each day, we strive to deliver an optimized, sustainable, and innovative experience that lives up to the high standards our customers have come to expect.

It's a truly inspiring environment, where the "Day One" mentality is palpable and contagious among my talented and highly motivated colleagues. Everyone on the team is collectively working towards the shared goal of providing the absolute best possible experience for the customer. This sense of purpose and dedication is what makes this workplace so special and energizing for me.

The passion and excitement I feel stem from being part of a team that is so resolutely focused on customer success. It's more than just "work" it's a relentless drive to exceed expectations and continuously improve the customer experience.

What I particularly love about my team is the brilliant and unique qualities that each individual brings to the table. It makes every day an interesting adventure that I eagerly anticipate. My role and this team inspire me to constantly expand my knowledge, explore innovative ideas, and deliver impactful results. Being surrounded by such a talented and motivated group makes it effortless to be passionate about my responsibilities.

What is your favorite leadership principle and why?

Among the many leadership principles that resonate with me at Amazon, two stand out as particular favorites: "Bias for Action" and "Dive Deep". I love these principles because they require a delicate balance to properly execute in my day-to-day work.

On one hand, the "Bias for Action" principle pushes me to be nimble, decisive, and quick to implement solutions. This agility is essential for Delivering Results in a fast-paced environment. At the same time, the "Dive Deep" principle compels me to thoroughly analyze problems, gather detailed insights, and develop well-informed strategies.

Striking the right balance between these two principles is key. By doing so, I'm able to both act decisively and make data-driven decisions. This dual approach naturally leads to Innovating and Simplifying, as I'm continuously looking for ways to enhance processes and deliver greater efficiency.

Ultimately, this careful equilibrium between "Bias for Action" and "Dive Deep" enables me to remain resolutely Customer Obsessed. I'm able to rapidly address customer needs while also deeply understanding their pain points and crafting thoughtful, sustainable solutions. It's a powerful combination that I find truly energizing and fulfilling in my work.

I'm incredibly excited about the prospect of making tangible, measurable impacts alongside my team here at Amazon. The work we're doing is not only challenging and engaging, but it also has the potential for significant and sustainable growth.

As I look towards the future, I can't wait to see how my contributions, combined with the collective efforts of my talented colleagues, will shape the company's continued success.

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