Insider Insights from Amazon’s Early Days

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Steve Yegge, a 56-year-old from Washington, about working at Amazon — founded in 1994 — from 1998 to 2005. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Joining Amazon: A Leap into the Unknown

When I was still finishing up college, I started working for a software company, and one of my college friends shared the saddest news ever: she was going to work at an online bookstore. Later on, another friend decided to join Amazon, saying he received an offer he couldn’t refuse. Intrigued, I began to explore opportunities and soon found myself ready to leave my job — in 1998, I joined Amazon as a technical program manager.

Working Under Jeff Bezos

As I climbed the ranks, I eventually found myself working on a secret project directly for Jeff Bezos. He was a hands-on leader with an unmistakable magnetism, but his singular focus on his mission was evident. Despite my disagreements with some of the company’s practices, I found it hard to dislike Bezos himself.

The Hiring Frenzy

When I joined the company in the late 90s, Amazon was hiring like crazy. Bezos was on a mad mission to scale quickly. As soon as I arrived, I began interviewing other candidates. At times, I was scheduled for two interviews simultaneously, forcing me to dash back and forth between rooms to ask questions. Yet, once you stepped into the building, there was an electric atmosphere. You could feel that something monumental was happening, all centered around Jeff.

My Role and Responsibilities

To get my foot in the door, I asked my friend who had left before me to deliver my résumé. After a successful interview, I landed in the technical program management organization. My initial role involved coordinating projects that spanned multiple teams. I spent roughly two and a half years in customer service tools, leading the engineering team for a year and a half of that time.

Unforgettable Experiences

The craziest things would happen in that part of the company. There were transportation mishaps, and we occasionally sent customers the extraordinarily wrong items. However, we always went above and beyond to make things right for our customers. We had all the best stories.

Engineering Manager and Secret Projects

I eventually became an engineering manager in developer tools. Toward the end of my time at Amazon, Jeff asked me to work on a secret project. He was always dreaming up innovative ideas and assigning tasks that seemed impossible. The project was intended to be groundbreaking, but I felt it wasn’t feasible given my limited knowledge of distributed computing at the time. I was apprehensive about delivering that message to Jeff.

Unique Leadership Style

Throughout my career, I’ve worked under various CEOs, including Google’s Larry Page and Eric Schmidt. Unlike them, Jeff frequently pulled senior employees together for impromptu discussions. He had a unique ability to reset our thinking and challenge our perspectives daily. I never saw him shy away from pushing people to their limits.

Conclusion: A Lasting Impact

Reflecting on my time at Amazon, I realize how pivotal those early years were in shaping my career. Jeff Bezos’ relentless pursuit of innovation and his magnetic leadership style left a lasting impression on me and many others. The experiences I gained during that period have influenced my professional journey in ways I continue to appreciate today.

For more insights into the early days of Amazon and Jeff Bezos’ leadership, check out the original article.