5 min read
Updated June 27, 2023
15 ways employees experience belonging at AWS
AWS employees describe how an inclusive culture at AWS allows them to bring their authentic selves to work and deliver better for customers.
Written by the Life at AWS team
Inclusion and belonging are the essential building blocks for creating a positive and productive work environment. At Amazon Web Services (AWS), employees are empowered to be themselves, which allows them to better deliver for customers.
Organizations that invest in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are seeing positive business outcomes—such as better competitive position, increased agility and innovation, and better brand perception—
according to a study commissioned by AWS and published by TechTarget's Enterprise Strategy Group. AWS employees, known as builders in AWS parlance, also describe positive impacts for customers, internal morale, and work-life harmony as additional benefits of a strong DEI culture.
The Life at AWS team caught up with 15 AWS builders about their views on our inclusive work culture and how a sense of belonging leads to better business outcomes and happier employees. Here’s what they had to say.
“It’s one of the most inclusive cultures I’ve experienced in my career. People are always willing to help you with new technologies. I had a time when I felt like I’m the only one who doesn’t know something at AWS, and there are friends and colleagues who helped me pull out of that head space. This is a workplace that is very friendly to the employees.”
Garry Singh
partner solutions architect
Middle East and South Africa
“I love my team. What makes what I do every day so enjoyable are the people I get to learn from every day and spend my time with—we have a ton of fun together and push each other to challenge ourselves. We have such unique backgrounds and are not all cut from the same cloth. With different mindsets and different points of view, I think that's what makes us tick as a team and ultimately it helps us deliver a better product to our partners.”
Alayna Broderson
senior manager, production applications, AWS Partner organization
Seattle
“People are very friendly and I have been lucky to work with so many amazing colleagues that are so smart. I learn so much and at the same time we develop friendships. And it's the same with our customers, as well—you work with the customers and you build these relationships, so it feels great like we are all one team."
Maira Ladeira Tanke
senior data science specialist
Germany
“One of the benefits of AWS is it’s such a broad, large, diverse group — there are communities for basically everything. There’s a Catholics at Amazon group which I’ve joined for regular prayer, which I never thought I’d do at work. There’s an Amazon parents group and all these different groups so when you look around, there’s somebody like you and you find your people, which is awesome."
Rachel Kelley
senior customer solutions manager
Los Angeles
"Being your genuine self allows you to be genuine with your customers—that allows you to be customer-obsessed. If you're not being genuine, your customers will know. At a lot of companies, the diversity, equity & inclusion groups exist over on the sidelines, but here, they're part of the conversation and part of the metrics that we gauge to know if we’re doing our job correctly. Inclusion is part of that from the get-go. We’re showing our customers that we look like them, we talk like them, we share their experiences, and we have their perspectives. That's critical."
David Bounds
senior solutions architect
London, U.K.
“Being an African American woman, this is probably the first company I’ve ever worked where leadership actually looks like me. So it’s super exciting to see and shows me what's possible for my own career path."
Cassandra Cage
sales manager
Arlington, Va.
“Several organizations talk about diversity and their openness to recruit candidates with more diverse thought. I’m proud that AWS really stands true to that. I don’t feel I need to bring a cookie cutter mindset or approach to the table to be successful. I have the opportunity to explore exciting ways to do my job. I can do things my way, that complements my style, and my thoughts are accepted — I love that.”
Quanteer Williams
sales leader
Arlington, Va.
“As a woman in sales and tech, there have been some times in my career where it’s been difficult to be a woman in this industry. I can honestly say that I have never felt more comfortable, more included, or more embraced than I do at AWS. While I’d like to say it’s because it's 2023 and the world has completely evolved, that is not true everywhere. It really is core to the culture and the type of people who we hire and who want to be here. So I encourage women—in tech in particular—to consider AWS. This is a great place to advance your career."
Deirdre Toner
director, worldwide data go-to-market
Nevada
“My voice is heard at AWS. To add to that, in my 22 years of work experience, this is the most blended, diversified environment I’ve ever worked in."
Mo Allen
sales specialist
New York
“I am autistic and I feel like I don’t have to put on a persona at Amazon. I can just be myself. I have worked at previous companies where I have to be very careful what I say and how I act around coworkers, as they are not as inclusive and understanding.”
Ana Steele
software development engineer
Seattle
Working at AWS is one of the best experiences in my 20-year career journey, everyone has a voice and your voice is always being heard equally. This culture allows us to never stop bringing new ideas, creativity, and innovations to the team and workplace. I strongly believe that the more diversified and also inclusive the team and company cultures are, the more innovations we can drive for customers.”
Aumaporn Armradist
head of public sector marketing
ASEAN
"Inspiring and advocating inclusion is an integral part of our company values. We want to inspire the next generation to look up at female and diverse role models, ask questions, seek mentorship, and bring out the best in themselves without any prejudice or apprehensions. At AWS, we walk the talk, break down silos, and welcome everyone for who they are.”
Suchanda Mandal
strategic partner engagement leader
Singapore
“I would like future job seekers to understand that we value and respect them for their diverse background and they will find in AWS a workplace where they can truly express themselves, be heard, and be listened to.”
Linda Dadjo
network development manager
Seattle
“I've worked for several companies that didn't have culture—they didn't know what they were about. AWS looks to hire people that believe in its values and that includes seeking out diverse perspectives. I’ve never been as happy or as proud to work anywhere as I am at Amazon.”
Lee Kear
principal storage specialist solutions architect
Seattle
"Having a diverse team is great because it helps us have a different point of view of a problem. It provides feedback and new ways of solving problems. Everybody at AWS has different experience, at every level of knowledge as well, and we obsess over our customers. We can provide customers with multiple options so they can choose according to their requirements or challenges."
George Ramirez
cloud support engineer
Washington
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