On Friday 29 November, a select group of BSc Information Management for Business (IMB) students had the unique opportunity to attend an exclusive visit to Amazon’s London HQ for an insight session organised by the Senior Employer Engagement Officer Oliver Peachey with support from Employer Engagement Officer Laura Langley, Careers Consultant Mark de Freitas and IMB Teaching and Learning Administrator Noelle Yip. The event was hosted by IMB alumnus Deen Kobir and his colleagues at Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
34 students were selected through a competitive application process out of a pool of almost 100, all coming to the session with their CVs and questions about working for Amazon. After a brief introduction, Deen and his colleagues Kesh Kularatne, Karim Ghali (IMB alumnus), Kiran Sidhu and Daniel Pelloquin all spoke about their roles at Amazon and AWS – delivering presentations about the application process and their distinct roles and focus within the business.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion, where our Amazonians shared their insights and advice around the importance of company culture, innovation, raising the bar and networking to get ahead. Following the presentations and panel discussion, our students broke into smaller groups where everyone had the opportunity to have their CV reviewed individually and as part of a team.
Discussing the event, Programme Director for the BSc Information Management for Business programme Maya Cara stated, ‘The Amazon x UCL Insights event was a transformative experience for our IMB students, offering them a unique glimpse into the inner workings of a global leader. From exploring company culture and innovation to gaining practical career advice, the visit empowered our students with knowledge and inspiration that will guide them in their future careers. It truly exemplified the power of collaboration between industry and academia.’
Deen Kobir (IMB alumnus) Strategy Consultant at Amazon also said, ‘It was a pleasure hosting such a great event. Looking forward to many more successful ones ahead.’
All students were encouraged to share their feedback on the day – here’s a selection of their responses:
“I absolutely loved the visit, I got really good advice concerning the layout of my CV and how I can change it to look more appealing to recruiters. It has definitely influenced my career aspirations.”
“I liked the point made about being the translator between business and technology, and it inspired me a lot as this is the exact connection I am seeking to take advantage of in my career. Attending this event has made me think about the kind of impact I want to make.”
“I received some helpful advice about my CV and how showcasing more uncommon but unique aspects may be beneficial when applying to Amazon. I was inspired by the roles and positive experiences in positions I am highly interested in.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from the range of speakers from different Amazon departments as it provided more diverse insights into roles I had not yet encountered.”
“Seeing the headquarters and hearing from the panel as a real hands-on understanding of the industry I want to get involved in is really valuable to me, especially in the early stages of my career.”
Find out more about the careers support at UCL School of Management
