After working across 3 continents with Amazon (in the US, UK, and Australia) I learned that work ethic looked a bit different according to location and culture.
After working across 3 continents with Amazon (in the US, UK, and Australia) I learned that work ethic looked a bit different according to locale:
Seattle (2006): Work hard, but don't arrive to the office too early. Stay late, grab a beer, and keep working with your co-workers. Hoodies + Polos = perfectly acceptable leadership attire.
London (2012): Start earlier, dress sharper. A bit more formal, a bit more polish. I've never seen a group of people with such consistent presentation and speaking skills.
Sydney (2017): Not too early of a start to the workday, balanced finish. One of my favourite culture moments? The head of AWS once had to remind people in a company-wide email, to please wear shoes to the office. 😂
Same company, totally different rhythms. But the common thread were always Amazon's Leadership Principles. They kept the bar high and the culture consistent, no matter where I worked.
Embracing Cultural Diversity in Leadership
Leading across continents taught me the importance of cultural adaptability. Recognising and respecting local customs, communication styles, and workplace norms is crucial. It's not about changing your core values but about being flexible and open-minded.
Insights from my Global Community
The response to my LinkedIn post about this same topic highlighted shared experiences and diverse perspectives:
- Kimmy Nami inquired about work start times in Amazon Australia, noting early starts in other Australian companies.
- Lucas Barbosa shared that in Brazil, while the workday starts later, it's common to work past 8 PM, a non-negotiable one-hour lunch.
- Nick Holmes reflected on adapting Under Armour's culture for the U.K. market, highlighting the need to tone down the "brash, American sports locker room vibe" to suit British sensibilities.
- Furhat Peerun mentioned having a one-on-one meeting along the coast in Australia, showing the Aussie culture of getting outside.
These anecdotes show how the local culture can still be unique but the company culture can largely remain the same. This is why it is important to have cultural intelligence in leadership.
The Universal Thread: Core Values
While practices vary, core values often remain consistent. At Amazon, the Leadership Principles acted as a compass, guiding behavior and decision-making across all offices. As leaders, it's essential to uphold these core values while being attuned to local nuances. This balance ensures both consistency and cultural relevance.
Navigating diverse work cultures has enriched my leadership journey, teaching me that adaptability, empathy, and a strong value foundation are key to leading effectively across borders.