Ethan Evans
Former Vice President at Amazon (now executive coach)
Former VP at Amazon who spent 15 years there helping invent and run Prime Video, Amazon Appstore, Prime Gaming, and Twitch Commerce, led teams of over 800, holds 70+ patents, and now coaches leaders on executive growth.
Dimension Profile
Key Themes
Episode Summary
Ethan Evans, former Amazon VP, shares The Magic Loop — his five-step framework for career growth that became one of the most popular posts ever on Lenny's Newsletter. Drawing from 15 years at Amazon where he held 70+ patents and led teams of 800+, he explains why career advancement starts with doing your current job well, proactively asking your manager how you can help, and building trust through consistent delivery. The conversation also covers how invention really works and Amazon's approach to leadership principles.
Leadership Principles
- → You don't need many good ideas to be seen as tremendously inventive — one good idea takes years to express fully
- → The first step of career growth is doing your current job well — you can't grow if your boss wishes you were different
- → Very few people ask their manager 'What can I do to help you?' — just asking sets you apart from everyone else
Notable Quotes
"People think invention takes all this time, but you only need two hours once a month. The thing is, once you have one good idea, it often takes years to express that."
— On how innovation actually works versus how people imagine it
"Very few people go and ask their manager, 'What can I do to help you? What do you need?' Just asking sets you apart."
— On step two of The Magic Loop for career growth
"Jeff and Amazon had ideas like 'Let's have Prime shipping.' Prime is still getting better and still being worked on. It's a 20-some year old idea. You don't need very many good ideas to be seen as tremendously inventive."
— On the power of sustained execution on a single great idea
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