Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - Executive insights panel: Changing your culture in the age of cloud (ENT234-L)

Summary

• AWS re:Invent 2022 featured a panel discussion on how companies can change their culture to leverage cloud technology effectively.
• The panel included Francesca Vasquez (VP, Technology and Customer Solutions, AWS), Sean Scott (Chief Product and Development Officer, PagerDuty), Candice Tang (VP Developer Experience for Platform, Expedia Group), and Justin Gettlin (VP of Engineering, NewBank).
• The discussion highlighted the importance of a cloud-ready culture for agility, innovation, and attracting talent.
• Companies like Nubank, PagerDuty, and Expedia Group shared their experiences in integrating culture with technology to drive growth and efficiency.
• Key themes included the significance of leadership in shaping culture, the role of developers in cloud adoption, the importance of inclusion and diversity, and strategies for talent attraction and retention.
• The panelists emphasized the need for clear goals, metrics, recognition, and a focus on people to create a sustainable culture that supports business growth at scale.

Insights

• Leadership and Culture: Leadership plays a crucial role in establishing a cloud-ready culture. Leaders must lead by example, clear paths for innovation, and emphasize customer-centric values.
• Developer Experience: Developers are pivotal in shaping the culture of innovation and cloud adoption. Companies must focus on creating frictionless experiences for developers to enable them to concentrate on building features and products.
• Inclusion and Diversity: A culture of inclusion is essential for attracting and retaining diverse talent. Companies must ensure that all team members feel respected, included, and heard to foster a sense of belonging and maximize their potential.
• Talent Attraction and Retention: NewBank's approach to talent attraction includes focusing on mission-driven recruitment and creating a growth mindset culture. They also run specific programs like Yes, She Codes and Nos Cadamos to attract diverse talent.
• Recognition and Engagement: Recognizing and celebrating wins, even in areas like platform teams or infrastructure, is vital for employee engagement and motivation.
• Learning and Agility: Programs like NewBank's New Cloud, which partners with AWS Training and Certification, demonstrate the importance of continuous learning and building cloud expertise across the organization.
• Scaling Culture: To scale culture effectively, companies must balance legacy and modern environments, simplify toolsets, and focus on core IP while leveraging licensed software for non-core functions.
• Metrics and Goals: Establishing clear goals and metrics aligned with business value is critical. Teams should be metrics-driven and understand how their work contributes to the company's strategic objectives.
• Celebrating Uniqueness: Companies should celebrate what makes them unique rather than trying to emulate others. This uniqueness is a key driver of team enthusiasm and culture.