Worked at AWS in the past. This resonates. Let's of missed chances. For example, the Alexa for Automotive team initially impressed with a well-produced demo video that painted a compelling vision of in-car voice integration. However, that vision unfortunately never translated into real-world execution. Despite having a major opportunity to collaborate with one of Asia’s largest automotive manufacturers—an ideal partner to bring Alexa into the vehicle ecosystem—there was little to no follow-through. The opportunity was essentially ignored.
From my perspective, one of the core issues was cultural. The Alexa teams were often staffed by long-timers with substantial RSU grants, many of whom appeared more focused on preserving internal influence and career security than driving bold external partnerships or innovation. It indeed felt less like a team pushing the envelope, and more like a collection of fiefdoms guarding their territory.
In the end, it was a missed opportunity—not just for Alexa, but for Amazon to play a central role in the connected car revolution.
From my perspective, one of the core issues was cultural. The Alexa teams were often staffed by long-timers with substantial RSU grants, many of whom appeared more focused on preserving internal influence and career security than driving bold external partnerships or innovation. It indeed felt less like a team pushing the envelope, and more like a collection of fiefdoms guarding their territory.
In the end, it was a missed opportunity—not just for Alexa, but for Amazon to play a central role in the connected car revolution.