How Identity Has Influenced a Learning Technology Support Engineer's Career at Amazon Robotics
Navigating a career with a speech impediment initially created a reluctance to communicate, as there was a dislike of hearing themself stutter and a concern others felt the same. Over time, getting more involved and practicing communication diminished the mental block, making it manageable and allowing them to confidently contribute to significant projects like teaching classes and sponsoring global training updates for Amazon, proving that perseverance and comfort with the stutter are key to not letting it hold them back.
Communication Skills, Overcoming Challenges, Self-Confidence, Perseverance, Career Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Matthew Bamonte
Learning Technology Support Engineer
Amazon Robotics
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Bloomsburg University | Major: Instructional Technology
Computer Science
Technology
Cyber Security and IT
Honors Student, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Overcoming the initial reluctance to communicate due to a speech impediment was crucial for career growth.
2. Developing strategies to manage the speech impediment led to increased confidence and improved communication skills.
3. Perseverance and self-acceptance were essential in not allowing the speech impediment to hinder career advancement, enabling achievements such as teaching classes and leading global training updates at Amazon.
Transcript
As someone who has a speech impediment, how has it impacted how you've navigated your career?
As someone who has a speech impediment, how has it impacted how you've navigated your career? At first, especially in college and even high school, it kind of made me just not want to talk to people. One, I hated hearing myself stutter, and that made me think that the same was true for everyone else that had to listen to me.
But as time went on, as I got more involved on campus and got used to trying to talk to people more, it became less of a mental block for me. It's still there, but I've just found ways to manage it. Had I not, I don't know that I would be where I am because it impacts my confidence and my ability to get things done and communicate well.
If my younger self, if Penn College freshman Matt, knew that he would one day teach several classes, or if he knew that one day he would sponsor big, sweeping updates and changes to how people get trained across the globe for Amazon, I don't know how he would have reacted to that. It's been something that's taken a lot of work and perseverance, not allowing it to stop me.
Being comfortable with my stutter is something that has taken my life to do. It's an everyday thing, but you can't let it stop you.