As the person who turned online shopping into a national pastime, the CEO of the ultimate digital experience has flipped the script and expanded into brick-and-mortar, with the purchase of Whole Foods. Even his acquisition of the Washington Post gave the firm a brick-and-mortar foothold.
Amazon is also expanding its footprint in other ways. It has more than 50 fulfillment centers and is still opening more, 23 sortation centers, and 300,000 employees, 90,000 of whom are full-time.
Bezos is also committed to making technology integral to Amazon day-to-day business. While the firm continues to add more human employees, it also has 100,000 robots working at its fulfillment centers. It plans 5,000 virtual customer service jobs in the year ahead, and its Amazon Go self-checkout technology and Instant Pickup service are transforming grocery shopping as we know it today.
And with Bezos’ latest foray into rocketry with Blue Origin, the space company he runs, the entrepreneur is even catching the eye of the federal government. Bezos is a member of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Advisory Board.
With his hands in so many pots, it’s impossible to predict what he’ll do next, but there is no doubt innovational and groundbreaking.
Founder/Chairman (since 1994)
CEO (since May, 1996)
President (since October, 2000)
Company start date: 1994
First Position at Company: Founder
Age: 53
Education: B.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
