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Amazon execs say layoffs are part of turning the company into the 'world's largest startup,' leaked memos show
Business Insider· 2026-01-28 18:28
Core Insights - Amazon is laying off 16,000 corporate workers to position itself as the "world's largest startup," emphasizing a culture of ownership, speed, and experimentation [1][10][14] Group 1: Layoff Details - The layoffs are part of Amazon's strategy to evolve its organizational structure and maintain agility in delivering customer value [10][12] - Affected teams include those within Amazon Web Services (AWS) such as AI cloud service Bedrock, cloud data warehouse service Redshift, and retail business teams like Prime subscription service [7][16] Group 2: Executive Communication - Internal memos from AWS executives, including Prasad Kalyanaraman and Colleen Aubrey, highlight the need for reducing bureaucracy and increasing ownership to enhance operational speed [2][14] - Executives acknowledged the difficulty of these changes but emphasized their necessity for future success and maintaining a strong focus on customer delivery [12][16] Group 3: Support for Affected Employees - Amazon has communicated the availability of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for laid-off employees, offering 24/7 support [9][16] - Notifications to impacted employees in the U.S., Canada, and Costa Rica have been completed, with local processes being followed in other regions [11][16]