Working at Amazon is the Best Preparation for a Board Position

Surprisingly, working at Amazon as a Director might have been one of the best preparations I have had for taking on board seats.

Let us unpack some of the operational principles and behaviors that I used and developed during my 12+ years at the Internet giant:

Risk assessment: Ensuring this happens is one of the board’s main responsibilities, and every single MBR or WBR at Amazon was an exercise in judging risk. In my Director role, juggling between the “Think Big” and “Bias for Action” principles required us to make the distinction between calculated short-term risks and long-term benefits.

Governance: If there is one thing Amazonians around the world know, it is that “good intentions do not work, mechanisms do.” As a Director, I saw how mechanisms take different forms—it could be ensuring checks and balances are there during the recruitment process, or instituting quality decision-making processes by implementing 6-page narratives. These are just a few examples of crystal-clear processes and mechanisms that make decisions and outcomes auditable.

Learning from the best: A boardroom is filled with Avengers—folks who have been the best at what they do. At Amazon, my Director experience taught me intellectual curiosity, how to debate with very smart people, and ultimately prepared me for the big leagues.

To my fellow ex and current Amazonians and board members, any other thoughts? Asking for a friend.

Bruno Monfils,
CEO Excellence Consulting