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David, Senior Manager - Fleet Marketing at Amazon: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from Marine Corps infantry and intelligence officer to Senior Manager of Fleet Marketing at Amazon, a role overseeing a large team and a massive out-of-home marketing channel using Amazon's delivery vehicles and infrastructure, is detailed in this interview.
The interviewee's path highlights the value of a military background, an accelerated leadership program, and continuous learning, especially in developing quantitative skills like statistics and Excel.
Success in this innovative, fast-paced industry requires grit, adaptability, and strong leadership skills, as well as a willingness to embrace new challenges and technologies.
The interviewee's experience suggests that combining a non-business undergraduate degree with supplementary business coursework provides a strong foundation, while operational experience at Amazon can be a valuable stepping stone to program management and marketing roles.
The daily work includes early mornings dedicated to strategic thinking, managing a team, collaborating on campaigns, and solving novel problems, all leading to a rewarding and varied career.
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Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
David Marshall
Senior Manager - Fleet Marketing
Amazon
Baylor University
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey - Masters Business Administration (MBA)
International Relations & Affairs
Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Business Strategy
Disabled, Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Veteran, First Generation College Student
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Career Path Of A Senior Manager Fleet Marketing At Amazon
David's career journey began with an undergraduate degree in international relations and Marine Corps internships, followed by nine years of service as an infantry and intelligence officer. After considering a career change, this led to Amazon's military pathways program, a two-year accelerated leadership program, which eventually propelled David into program management and finally to their current role leading Amazon's fleet marketing program.
Main Responsibilities of a Senior Manager of Fleet Marketing at Amazon
David, a Senior Manager of Fleet Marketing at Amazon, oversees a team of eight, managing "Amazon's largest out-of-home marketing channel" by utilizing "Amazon physical assets, think last mile delivery vans or lockers, et cetera, as billboards." Their team's responsibilities encompass campaign execution, quality management, and continuous improvement for efficiency.
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Manager Fleet Marketing At Amazon
David, a Senior Manager of Fleet Marketing at Amazon, starts each day at 4:00 or 4:30 AM, dedicating time to "deep thinking," skill development in generative AI, and "document writing," a key communication method at Amazon. The remainder of the day balances meetings ("usually try to keep meetings to 40% of the day"), internal team check-ins, collaboration with leadership and peers on marketing campaigns, and flexible time for ad-hoc requests.
Most Important Skills for a Senior Manager of Fleet Marketing at Amazon
David, a Senior Manager of Fleet Marketing at Amazon, emphasizes the importance of "grit," the ability to learn from failures and creatively solve ambiguous problems, a necessity given the innovative nature of their work – "no company has" done this type of marketing before. Strong leadership skills are also crucial, as they manage a large team, including hundreds of contractors across the US and Europe.
Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Manager Fleet Marketing at Amazon
David's favorite aspects of his Senior Manager - Fleet Marketing role at Amazon include the daily variety—"every day is slightly different"—and the strong team relationships, which he finds comparable to his military experience, noting "some of the most smartest, um, interesting people that I've ever met," alongside the ability to socialize with colleagues. The financial success and unexpected career path since leaving the military also contribute to his job satisfaction.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Manager Fleet Marketing At Amazon
David's biggest challenges as a Senior Manager at Amazon involve "the people management aspect," requiring constant attention to employee development and balancing individual needs with work demands. Equally significant is the continuous need to "solve new problems," a facet David finds both challenging and rewarding, encompassing launching new teams, improving operational efficiency, and expanding programs internationally.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Logistics Industry As A Senior Fleet Marketing Manager
David, a Senior Manager of Fleet Marketing at Amazon, enjoys the unique blend of marketing and logistics in his industry, citing the opportunity to be "very creative" while also "solving problems and fixing issues for the customer." This dual nature allows him to engage both creative and problem-solving aspects of his work.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Logistics Industry, According To A Senior Manager Fleet Marketing At Amazon
David, a Senior Manager at Amazon, emphasizes "grit" and the ability to be "comfortable with being uncomfortable" as crucial for success in the fleet marketing industry. This involves mastering fear and anxiety to fuel motivation and resourcefulness in navigating the unknown challenges inherent in the role.
What a Senior Manager Fleet Marketing at Amazon Wishes They Knew Before Joining
David, a Senior Manager at Amazon, wishes they had focused more on "math, statistics, and Excel" before entering the industry, as these quantitative skills are heavily utilized in their current role. The interview reveals that after transitioning from the military, considerable time was spent on self-education to develop these essential skills, highlighting a need for proactive planning and preparation during career transitions.
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Amazon Operations Careers
David, a Senior Manager of Fleet Marketing at Amazon, recommends that undergraduate students seeking entry-level positions start in Amazon Operations, spending "one to two years" in fulfillment or delivery logistics to gain valuable business and leadership experience. This operational experience, David suggests, serves as a strong foundation for internal advancement into roles such as program management or marketing within the company.
Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Manager Fleet Marketing At Amazon
David, a Senior Manager at Amazon, emphasizes the importance of remaining agile and a "continuous learner" in a constantly evolving professional landscape. This necessitates consistently seeking new knowledge through various resources, ensuring that one's skillset adapts to "new technologies, new emerging industries, new techniques," to remain relevant and successful.
College Experiences That Helped A Senior Manager Fleet Marketing At Amazon Succeed
David, a Senior Manager at Amazon, suggests supplementing a non-business undergraduate degree with "basic business classes," such as accounting and business strategy, to build a foundational understanding of the business world. This helped David, whose undergraduate degree was in international relations, to better navigate career choices and ultimately contribute to success in their current role.
How Identity Has Influenced A Senior Manager Fleet Marketing At Amazon's Career
David's military service instilled "resourcefulness" and a willingness to take on challenging initiatives, even outside of their area of expertise. This experience enabled a successful launch of a new program at Amazon, demonstrating how the skills and confidence gained during military service translated into career advancement and success in a civilian role.
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