Meet Amazon's Women in STEM
Rachel Cooke - Global RME Director
What interested you into a STEM career with Amazon?
I studied STEM subjects because I really enjoyed them and got good results too. I joined Amazon because it’s a huge company that’s growing in Europe and I have the freedom to innovate in my role.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
As the Global Director of Reliability Maintenance Engineering, I’ve had many fascinating and varied projects ranging from introducing wireless condition based monitoring sensors to creating new science teams.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The variety.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
Leading a global organization and restructuring it so that it truly operates globally and leverages its scale to its advantage.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
If you enjoy it, then it’s for you – it can take you all over the world.
I studied STEM subjects because I really enjoyed them and got good results too. I joined Amazon because it’s a huge company that’s growing in Europe and I have the freedom to innovate in my role.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
As the Global Director of Reliability Maintenance Engineering, I’ve had many fascinating and varied projects ranging from introducing wireless condition based monitoring sensors to creating new science teams.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The variety.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
Leading a global organization and restructuring it so that it truly operates globally and leverages its scale to its advantage.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
If you enjoy it, then it’s for you – it can take you all over the world.
Abby Aldridge - SDE Apprentice
What interested you into a STEM career with Amazon?
During school, my favourite subject was computer science; I really enjoyed programming and learning about the topic. However, I was unsure whether I wanted to pursue a career in software or enter the film industry. So, when I came across this software engineering apprenticeship at Prime Video, it seemed like a great opportunity that combined both of the areas that I enjoy.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
Since joining, I’ve been involved in a diverse array of projects, from machine learning to web development, and have worked with a variety of systems, tools, and programming languages. My team is incredibly supportive, involving me in a wide range of tasks. This has allowed me to really get stuck into my role, continuously learning and engaging with different aspects of the field.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The thing I enjoy most about my role is learning on the job. It’s an excellent way to start in the industry, as everyone is really supportive and it allows me to gain hands-on experience in solving real-world problems.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced has been dealing with impostor syndrome. Since when I started, my knowledge was limited, and I felt somewhat behind. However, I soon realised that an apprenticeship is designed to teach you the necessary skills. The support from everyone has been amazing, and I’ve learned a great deal from my role since then.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
My advice for people considering a career in STEM is to apply if you’re interested in the subject! I believe a STEM apprenticeship is a great way to gain the skills and experience necessary to enter a STEM position.
During school, my favourite subject was computer science; I really enjoyed programming and learning about the topic. However, I was unsure whether I wanted to pursue a career in software or enter the film industry. So, when I came across this software engineering apprenticeship at Prime Video, it seemed like a great opportunity that combined both of the areas that I enjoy.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
Since joining, I’ve been involved in a diverse array of projects, from machine learning to web development, and have worked with a variety of systems, tools, and programming languages. My team is incredibly supportive, involving me in a wide range of tasks. This has allowed me to really get stuck into my role, continuously learning and engaging with different aspects of the field.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The thing I enjoy most about my role is learning on the job. It’s an excellent way to start in the industry, as everyone is really supportive and it allows me to gain hands-on experience in solving real-world problems.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced has been dealing with impostor syndrome. Since when I started, my knowledge was limited, and I felt somewhat behind. However, I soon realised that an apprenticeship is designed to teach you the necessary skills. The support from everyone has been amazing, and I’ve learned a great deal from my role since then.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
My advice for people considering a career in STEM is to apply if you’re interested in the subject! I believe a STEM apprenticeship is a great way to gain the skills and experience necessary to enter a STEM position.
Shri Shah - Senior Programme Manager
What interested you into a STEM career with Amazon?
I wanted to develop my career by working on innovations at large scale and learn from the best in the industry.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
I have had an opportunity to work with stakeholders at all levels across Amazon UK where I got to create opportunities for people and launch programs that feed into the goal of being Best Employer on the Earth.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The most enjoyable part of my role is that I get to work across many business lines within Amazon UK and get to witness the behind the scenes of Amazon’s innovations.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
Not a challenge as such but after joining Amazon, I had to very quickly learn to work in the fast lane to deliver results and find solutions to support the large scale projects.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
People who have passion to solve problems or always eager to know how things work will be successful in the field of STEM where they will get exposure to cutting edge technologies. Don’t be afraid to experiment and follow your interests in the STEM subjects.
I wanted to develop my career by working on innovations at large scale and learn from the best in the industry.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
I have had an opportunity to work with stakeholders at all levels across Amazon UK where I got to create opportunities for people and launch programs that feed into the goal of being Best Employer on the Earth.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The most enjoyable part of my role is that I get to work across many business lines within Amazon UK and get to witness the behind the scenes of Amazon’s innovations.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
Not a challenge as such but after joining Amazon, I had to very quickly learn to work in the fast lane to deliver results and find solutions to support the large scale projects.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
People who have passion to solve problems or always eager to know how things work will be successful in the field of STEM where they will get exposure to cutting edge technologies. Don’t be afraid to experiment and follow your interests in the STEM subjects.
Donna Walker - Data Analyst Apprentice
What interested you into a STEM career with Amazon?
I have spent the last 17 years within the merchandising function In the clothing retail sector. I loved my career but my interest in technology has grown especially in the last few years where everyone is talking about big data. I could see the pace around me changing in terms of how people are leveraging data to their advantage and automating processes. I’ve always enjoyed understanding a process and then trying to make the process easier especially through reporting. Its rewarding when a team appreciates that you have helped make something easier and more useful and also seeing that it’s made their processes easier. However, my knowledge gap between what I wanted to do, and what I could do technically, was growing and I had a hunger to learn new relevant skills. I completed a code first girls course in SQL, and I absolutely loved it and I could see the advantage of having these new skills. I saw the apprenticeship scheme for digital and technology solutions and I could see it was with the best company in the world and I felt like I just needed to take the chance to learn this whole new skill set, with the best in the business. It’s been a huge leap of faith going into the unknown but I'm very excited about what the future will bring and what I will learn.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
I have been working within the EU fixed cost team at amazon for 2 months, and I have been learning about a procurement processes they already leverage to make purchase order raising easier. Its been really interesting to understand the process, why the process is in place and how they analyse their data. I’m currently helping the team through the process again as new areas implement it so its been a great way to meet the team as well as learning along the way. It was great to attend the teams strategy days, to really understand the role of the fixed cost team and how they help the overall vision of amazon.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I would say I enjoy learning the tech side of things the most. I have only been with amazon for 2 months but I can already see that there is so much potential to be able to design something that could be useful for the team. I have used a bit of SQL for the first time, which I haven’t used anywhere else before, and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into learning Python so that I can deliver some spreadsheet magic and automation. I’m excited about the opportunity ahead.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
The biggest challenge I would say was making the career switch, taking the leap of faith and then starting all over again and asking so many questions. There is so much to learn and the opportunity is huge, every day is a step forward into the direction I want to go and Amazon is very supportive of you expanding your skill set and taking on a challenge. Everyday is day 1.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
My advice would be to follow your passion regardless of what stage of life you’re in. Its never too late to learn new skills and don’t let fear hold you back. For anyone that maybe thinking of venturing into tech, there are many free courses out there, so it may be worth completing some of these courses just to see if you are moving into a direction that you love.
I have spent the last 17 years within the merchandising function In the clothing retail sector. I loved my career but my interest in technology has grown especially in the last few years where everyone is talking about big data. I could see the pace around me changing in terms of how people are leveraging data to their advantage and automating processes. I’ve always enjoyed understanding a process and then trying to make the process easier especially through reporting. Its rewarding when a team appreciates that you have helped make something easier and more useful and also seeing that it’s made their processes easier. However, my knowledge gap between what I wanted to do, and what I could do technically, was growing and I had a hunger to learn new relevant skills. I completed a code first girls course in SQL, and I absolutely loved it and I could see the advantage of having these new skills. I saw the apprenticeship scheme for digital and technology solutions and I could see it was with the best company in the world and I felt like I just needed to take the chance to learn this whole new skill set, with the best in the business. It’s been a huge leap of faith going into the unknown but I'm very excited about what the future will bring and what I will learn.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
I have been working within the EU fixed cost team at amazon for 2 months, and I have been learning about a procurement processes they already leverage to make purchase order raising easier. Its been really interesting to understand the process, why the process is in place and how they analyse their data. I’m currently helping the team through the process again as new areas implement it so its been a great way to meet the team as well as learning along the way. It was great to attend the teams strategy days, to really understand the role of the fixed cost team and how they help the overall vision of amazon.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I would say I enjoy learning the tech side of things the most. I have only been with amazon for 2 months but I can already see that there is so much potential to be able to design something that could be useful for the team. I have used a bit of SQL for the first time, which I haven’t used anywhere else before, and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into learning Python so that I can deliver some spreadsheet magic and automation. I’m excited about the opportunity ahead.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
The biggest challenge I would say was making the career switch, taking the leap of faith and then starting all over again and asking so many questions. There is so much to learn and the opportunity is huge, every day is a step forward into the direction I want to go and Amazon is very supportive of you expanding your skill set and taking on a challenge. Everyday is day 1.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
My advice would be to follow your passion regardless of what stage of life you’re in. Its never too late to learn new skills and don’t let fear hold you back. For anyone that maybe thinking of venturing into tech, there are many free courses out there, so it may be worth completing some of these courses just to see if you are moving into a direction that you love.
Maria King - Account Manager Apprentice
What interested you into a STEM career with Amazon?
A career in technology appealed to me as I realised how fast changing it was. My mum was at school before calculators and I started before smart boards. The world is constantly changing and when it comes to technology, that change is really apparent and impactful to every single person with access to it. I always knew I wanted to be part of something that made an impact, and to be able to witness my contributions in real world scenarios is something really special and I am very grateful for that.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
I’ve had the chance to learn about entirely new industries for me, present on topics I hadn’t even heard about a year ago, and get to grips with technology I didn’t even know existed. My entire role has been a rollercoaster of learning, making mistakes, making an impact & delivering results. I get involved in project delivery, finances, contracts, etc. The constant topics, service & pace changes make the role forever engaging and interesting to me.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy being part of a team but working on my own simultaneously. I feel supported but not smothered with the structure of account management & really value the first-hand connections I can make with my customers. Working at Amazon customer obsession is a requirement, but I love how easy it comes when the company is encouraging this. I enjoy the flexibility and the space to learn on the job, but am beyond grateful for the network of support ready to pick me back up and guide me when I take a wrong turn.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
Lack of knowledge. Before working here, I had never heard of AWS, the role of an Account Manager, or cloud computing. Amazon hires and develops the best so I was surrounded by capable colleagues that knew so much more than me. It was a challenge to accept I am not at that stage yet, and appreciate that I am early in career with a lot of room to grow and there is nothing wrong with that but it’s actually a really exciting position to be in. I slowly learnt that controlled mistakes were a valuable way of learning and picked up more than I ever imagined within my first year. This challenge ended up being a brilliant marker to see how much I have developed as a professional.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
Do it!! Chances are, it will be a career filled with learning new things, actually making a positive impact on peoples lives, and great earning potential. It can seem daunting or overwhelming but focus on yourself, what you want out of your life and career, and what you are willing to do to get there. It’s hard to ignore the voices in your head or of your haters, but it’s even harder to look back 20 years from now and realise you never took any risks or followed what you actually wanted to do for yourself. You just need to think about where you want to be 5, 10 or 15 years from now and how you want to get there. Going into STEM was the best decision I ever made and I would make it again 50x over. If it’s something you’re even remotely considering, explore it!
A career in technology appealed to me as I realised how fast changing it was. My mum was at school before calculators and I started before smart boards. The world is constantly changing and when it comes to technology, that change is really apparent and impactful to every single person with access to it. I always knew I wanted to be part of something that made an impact, and to be able to witness my contributions in real world scenarios is something really special and I am very grateful for that.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
I’ve had the chance to learn about entirely new industries for me, present on topics I hadn’t even heard about a year ago, and get to grips with technology I didn’t even know existed. My entire role has been a rollercoaster of learning, making mistakes, making an impact & delivering results. I get involved in project delivery, finances, contracts, etc. The constant topics, service & pace changes make the role forever engaging and interesting to me.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy being part of a team but working on my own simultaneously. I feel supported but not smothered with the structure of account management & really value the first-hand connections I can make with my customers. Working at Amazon customer obsession is a requirement, but I love how easy it comes when the company is encouraging this. I enjoy the flexibility and the space to learn on the job, but am beyond grateful for the network of support ready to pick me back up and guide me when I take a wrong turn.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
Lack of knowledge. Before working here, I had never heard of AWS, the role of an Account Manager, or cloud computing. Amazon hires and develops the best so I was surrounded by capable colleagues that knew so much more than me. It was a challenge to accept I am not at that stage yet, and appreciate that I am early in career with a lot of room to grow and there is nothing wrong with that but it’s actually a really exciting position to be in. I slowly learnt that controlled mistakes were a valuable way of learning and picked up more than I ever imagined within my first year. This challenge ended up being a brilliant marker to see how much I have developed as a professional.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
Do it!! Chances are, it will be a career filled with learning new things, actually making a positive impact on peoples lives, and great earning potential. It can seem daunting or overwhelming but focus on yourself, what you want out of your life and career, and what you are willing to do to get there. It’s hard to ignore the voices in your head or of your haters, but it’s even harder to look back 20 years from now and realise you never took any risks or followed what you actually wanted to do for yourself. You just need to think about where you want to be 5, 10 or 15 years from now and how you want to get there. Going into STEM was the best decision I ever made and I would make it again 50x over. If it’s something you’re even remotely considering, explore it!
Erin Francis - Cyber Security Apprentice
What interested you into a STEM career with Amazon?
I was interested in a career in stem at amazon due to how dynamic the company is, I felt like there would always be an opportunity to learn new skills and get involved in new projects, which would ultimately help my career progression.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
Despite only doing training at the moment, the trainings I’ve done have really helped me get an idea of the role I will be doing and have also helped me learn new skills. I’ve also had the opportunity to sit in on important meetings for engagements my team are doing, gaining an insider view which I would not get without working at amazon.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The thing I enjoy the most about my role is getting to meet and work with different people on my team. Everyone’s so friendly and always willing to help. I’ve learnt so many tips and tricks from them which make the work I’m doing easier and more exciting.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced so far is imposter syndrome. Being the first cohort of apprentices on my team, it can be a bit daunting at times when I don’t know how to do something, which to others is easy. Everyone on the teams helps with that though, they are always willing to give their time to help me and remind me that I’m here because I deserve to be here.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
My biggest advice for someone thinking about a stem career would be to have a curious mindset. There are so many new things to learn and ways to develop your skills. You gain so many different opportunities and meet so many new people. Its 100% worth it.
I was interested in a career in stem at amazon due to how dynamic the company is, I felt like there would always be an opportunity to learn new skills and get involved in new projects, which would ultimately help my career progression.
What responsibilities or engaging projects have you had that have allowed you to really get stuck into your role?
Despite only doing training at the moment, the trainings I’ve done have really helped me get an idea of the role I will be doing and have also helped me learn new skills. I’ve also had the opportunity to sit in on important meetings for engagements my team are doing, gaining an insider view which I would not get without working at amazon.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The thing I enjoy the most about my role is getting to meet and work with different people on my team. Everyone’s so friendly and always willing to help. I’ve learnt so many tips and tricks from them which make the work I’m doing easier and more exciting.
What’s been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced so far?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced so far is imposter syndrome. Being the first cohort of apprentices on my team, it can be a bit daunting at times when I don’t know how to do something, which to others is easy. Everyone on the teams helps with that though, they are always willing to give their time to help me and remind me that I’m here because I deserve to be here.
What advice would you give to anyone that’s thinking about a career in STEM ?
My biggest advice for someone thinking about a stem career would be to have a curious mindset. There are so many new things to learn and ways to develop your skills. You gain so many different opportunities and meet so many new people. Its 100% worth it.
