From Navigator to Amazon Senior Program Manager

I was a Navigator/Air Warfare Officer on the C130 Hercules in the RNZAF. My last role was as the Senior Air Warfare instructor at 40 Squadron, when I was responsible for the aviation standards and instruction of all C130 Air Warfare Officers. 

I initially left the military to study my MBA, and while at London Business School, I became interested in tech and pursuing a career with a tech firm. Amazon appealed to me due to the ability to move around internally as I was not (still are not!) sure exactly which direction I want to go. As well as this, I was excited to join a company that was at the top of its field and constantly innovating. 

What role are you doing? 

I am a Senior Program Manager at Amazon Pay, where I look after the merchant registration experience across the EU. This involves working with developers, compliance, legal, product and business teams to continuously improve the way that merchants on-board onto Amazon Pay, to ensure that it is simple and user friendly while adhering to all relevant regulations. 

I remember it being rather challenging and tiring, but overall was a good way to walk the interviewers through some of my achievements. I think the biggest piece of advice I could give is have a good think about how some of your skills and things you've done in the military can fit into the Amazon leadership principles. Some examples might be obvious, but with others, it might take a bit of thinking about which LP they are best suited for, and how to position them in a way to fit that LP! 

That there are a surprising number of similarities between flying a C130, or managing a section of aviators, and running a retail Profit &Loss statement or a Fintech product...the fundamental skills that the military arms you with are incredibly adaptable! 

I think the biggest difference for me is in the perspective about how big a problem something really is. The things that can at times be perceived as a huge issue or difficulty by those without military experience tend to be small problems in the grand scheme of things! 

Senior Program Manager