Incoming AWS CEO Adam Selipsky shares leadership lessons from pandemic in first public appearance since leaving Tableau

Adam Selipsky has years of labor expertise to attract upon, from stints as a vp at RealNetworks and Amazon, to main Tableau Software program as CEO for 5 years.

However as a pacesetter, that didn’t matter when the pandemic hit final yr.

“My physique of expertise truly turned harmful to me,” stated Selipsky, talking at a Technology Alliance occasion this week. “As you get additional and additional on in your profession, you are likely to rely loads on sample matching. To some extent you count on the previous to be informative on the long run — and there was nothing acquainted concerning the state of affairs.”

Selipsky made his first public look since saying in March that he was leaving Tableau to be the brand new CEO of Amazon Net Companies. He’ll exchange longtime AWS chief Andy Jassy, who will take over from Jeff Bezos as Amazon’s CEO on July 5.

Selipsky is a well-recognized face at Amazon as a former AWS govt who spent 11 years on the Seattle-based tech big. He left to affix Tableau as CEO in 2016.

Tableau was one of many first Seattle-area firms to ship their employees house when the pandemic started spreading within the U.S. early final yr. Selipsky stated he realized to lean on knowledge — knowledge on the virus’ unfold; knowledge to assist clients; and so on. — moderately than instinct that comes from expertise.

“Within the absence of instinct … you actually look to knowledge,” he stated.

Extremely grateful for the nice and cozy welcome (again) this week – made sweeter by colleagues, clients/companions & buddies. #AWS pic.twitter.com/mpWE4OgH5k

— Adam Selipsky (@aselipsky) May 21, 2021

For Selipsky, the pandemic was additionally a reminder to have empathy as a pacesetter — actually understanding the varied conditions that workers and clients have been coping with. A few of his workers have been coping with youngsters at house; others have been taking calls from the tub. And clients additionally had their distinctive challenges.

“Every buyer had totally different issues — some industries have been in complete meltdown,” he stated. “In the event you take a long-term view — which I all the time do and it’s one of many nice issues about Amazon — how can we take into consideration the place we’re going to be with these clients in three, 5, 10 years from now? What can we do now to essentially deepen these bonds of partnership?”

Amazon’s leadership principles are nonetheless deeply ingrained in Selipsky. Requested concerning the acceleration of digital adoption amid the pandemic and having the ability to establish tendencies, Selipsky stated he “all the time retreats” to Amazon’s precept of working backwards from the client.

“Buyer focus actually means two issues: a deep, deep, deep understanding of what your clients truly need and truly want and the place they’re truly headed. A few of these issues they will specific; a few of these issues it’s important to specific on their behalf.

“The second piece — which proves to be arduous — is to really take that understanding and bury it proper within the middle of each important determination you make as an organization,” he added. “Don’t depart it on the door while you determine what’s going to make your organization profitable.”

Discovered a lot from right this moment’s State of Know-how Luncheon with @TechAllianceWA ???????? Thanks @hrhmedia for the invite! And I received some cougar gold! ???? pic.twitter.com/X97ufP8l9l

— Ahn the Scene (@IAmJeanAhn) May 26, 2021

Whereas main Tableau, Selipsky helped drive development for the Seattle knowledge visualization pioneer, which had a market capitalization of round $three billion when he took over as CEO. Selipsky oversaw the corporate’s acquisition by Salesforce for $15.7 billion in 2019, the second-largest in Salesforce historical past, and he was instrumental in pivoting the corporate from a standard software program product to at least one tied within the cloud with subscription choices.

Selipsky, interviewed by HRH Media Group President Hanson Hosein at Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle, wasn’t requested about his transition from Tableau again to Amazon or why he took the gig. His return to AWS comes because the market-leading cloud enterprise is firing on all cylinders, with $45 billion in annual income and representing 63% of the corporate’s working revenue.

“Adam brings sturdy judgment, buyer obsession, group constructing, demand technology, and CEO expertise to an already very sturdy AWS management group,” Jassy wrote in a memo to workers in March. “And, having been in such a senior position at AWS for 11 years, he is aware of our tradition and enterprise effectively.”

Once I first began at @AWScloud 16 years in the past, #cloudcomputing was not even in it’s infancy. In the present day, it’s inspiring to see how #AWS clients, companions, workers have embraced & pushed this motion – although it is early days. Thrilled to be again for this subsequent chapter. #DayOne

— Adam Selipsky (@aselipsky) May 18, 2021