By Web Communications
This blog post was written by Seth Dean (MBA’20).
Seth Dean
During a torrential downpour which surely made the Seattle-based Amazonians feel as if they had never left Washington state, Amazon introduced itself to Music City during an “Amazon: Live at the Ryman” event last week. Or rather, the company showed just how well it was going to fit in to the thriving metropolis as it brings its new Operations Center of Excellence (and 5,000 new jobs) to Nashville.
As someone whose ancestors moved to Tennessee before it was even ratified as a state, I was immediately interested in Amazon’s November announcement about its new Nashville center, and wondered how it would shape the city. So when I received an invite to the Ryman event from Owen’s Career Management Center, I instantly RSVP’d — a savvy move considering how quickly tickets sold out.
Held at the historic Ryman Auditorium, the evening event was as much about the marriage of Nashville and Amazon as it was about the company itself. Attendees were treated to local foods served in mini bubble mailers (including Nashville Hot Popcorn) and entertainment from Tennessee State University’s renowned Aristocrat of Bands. Amazon touches were also evident all over the Ryman, with an Amazon Locker and a version of their latest sidewalk delivery vehicle, Scout, on display.
The event featured a house band, a talk show format, and audience Q&A. Operations executives spoke about their varied backgrounds, their excitement about the future, and the challenges they face (most notably, owning the last mile and the ability to achieve scale). “Amazon is committed to Nashville for the long-haul. We are bringing our own toothbrush,” said Dave Clark, Amazon Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations. Vice President of Delivery Experience Maria Renz (MBA ’96) — proudly sporting a Vanderbilt hoodie during her interview segment — expressed her excitement that the move meant more time she could spend on campus, where she serves on Owen’s Alumni Board.
As a student of multiple operations courses at Owen, I enjoyed identifying how many concepts and case problems from the classroom kept popping up during the executives’ remarks, which is impressive considering how little I knew about the field even six months ago. As my classmate Charles Conlin said, “It quickly became clear that Amazon’s ability to solve cutting-edge problems was driven by their tendency to blur the lines between Technology and Operations.”
Country music star and local Nashvillian Brad Paisley capped off the evening with a surprise performance. He serenaded the crowd with riffs of his songs with Amazon-specific jokes. “I remember being in high school and dreaming of one day performing at the Ryman. . . for an Amazon corporate event,” he said, to rousing laughter. Though he teased the recruiting team on their matching vests, Paisley won his way back into Amazon’s good graces by buying a product on their app mid-song.
As the event concluded and tornado sirens blared in the distance, I huddled with my fellow Owen students in a congested hallway of the Mother Church of Country Music, waiting for our rides and checking our Strategy teams’ Capstone progress (efficiency takes no time off). Despite the chaos brought about by the storm, I left the Ryman feeling both reassured and excited about the many changes Amazon will be bringing to Nashville — and beyond — with its new Center of Excellence. —Seth Dean
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