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“Do stuff anyway, even if people tell you no…just keep going.”
Today Sid and I got to talk with our friend Valery Gross, the inspirational Head of Data Center Demand Planning here in AWS Infrastructure and a 9 year veteran of Amazon.
This was a great episode about many things but especially getting to talk about women in business. We talk about the founding of the WIFI, (the Women In Finance Initiative affinity group at Amazon), the long term game of networking, and waking up at 4:30am to hit the gym.
As fathers of daughters, Sid and I took copious notes. The truth is we were recording things we want to start doing ourselves! Please enjoy!
3:45 | A regimen for success…a 4:30am alarm!
8:00 | Currently on audible: ‘Call Sign Chaos’ a book on leadership by James Mattis
10:30 | Growing up, wanting to be an astronaut, gravitating towards engineering
13:30 | Career pivot via B-school at UW go towards finance, Amazon after UW
17:10 | On mentorship and coaching people – helping others on their path
18:50 | Leadership philosophy – giving autonomy and rewarding initiative - bring solutions don’t bring problems
21:30 | The founding of WIFI – Amazon’s Women In Finance Initiative
24:00 | Unconscious Bias – Being aware is a big step for inclusion
27:20 | What you can do (and what men can do) – being an ally, speaking up when unconscious bias is occurring, actively seeking input from all voices
33:10 | Advice on finding mentors – first, what qualities do you want to emulate? Seek those whose style feels authentic and comfortable to you
39:45 | Advice for someone starting out in their career? Try different things…don’t be afraid to jump
40:30 | Message for girls – do stuff anyway, don’t worry who says no
41:30 | Advice to someone in the middle of their careers? – Invest time in building relationships. Up, sideways, and down
42:30 | The long term game of networking really is helping others and being friendly
47:20 | Other interests outside of work – snowboarding, teaching kids to ski, travel
48:40 | Some recommended books: on leadership – Stephen Covey (‘The 7 Habits…’ guy)/ for new leaders & managers: study the principle of ‘Situational Leadership’ – the best theory and practical guide/ Good crime fiction: ‘The Naturalist’ / Good memoir: ‘Educated’ by Tara Westover
51:55 | 3 people to meet for lunch: Michelle Obama, her grandmother, Warren Buffet
Valery on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valery13/
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Theme music by Good Baby. ‘Rose Colored’ (instrumental version). You can peep the full music video here: https://www.goodbaby.band/musicvideos
The music video to the theme music for the show: ‘Rose Colored’ by Good Baby
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