Mentorship is the Way
Helping others takes many forms, and James Etienne is making sure he’s helping in every way he sees fit. As a Global Sales Executive at Amazon Web Services, Etienne helps Fortune 500 companies leverage cloud technology to innovate, grow, and stay competitive, while also mentoring Black employees to find their power in the corporate world.
“I’m being trusted to do my job. I love that piece,” Etienne said. “My goal when I got here was to become a leader of leaders. Leading people is what I do.”
For Etienne, mentoring is about creating pathways and easing barriers, so others don’t have to face the challenges of corporate life alone. He views it as a way to pay forward the lessons he has learned and to make corporate spaces more welcoming for those who come after him.
He has personally guided over 80 Amazon employees, offering advice, and connected people directly to hiring managers to help cut through the obstacles that may sideline Black professionals in tech.
“I connect with people seeking mentors, and I try to help them navigate what corporate America is,” said Etienne.
A Helping Hand
At Amazon, Etienne launched an internal Black Men’s Mental Health podcast to help Black men have the conversations he never got to have, and to show that strength includes vulnerability. After experiencing loss himself, Etienne recognized that Black men are rarely given safe spaces to process grief, depression, or burnout, especially in high-performance environments, so he created one.
“It starts with the glass half full,” said Etienne.
His goal is to give people the clarity and support he didn’t have, like helping people find ways to get over their imposter syndrome.
“You can’t control what people think about you. That’s not the burden you carry. You can’t carry that [because] then that starts to take away from who you are as an employee,” said Etienne. “At some point, you have to be confident with who you are.”
When it comes to supporting someone on a new journey, no two paths are the same, which is why Etienne appreciates the autonomy Amazon gives him in his role.
On the corporate end, Etienne does B2B sales with Fortune 500 companies, where he focuses on helping enterprise clients leverage cloud technology to innovate, grow, and stay competitive. He has over two decades of experience in tech sales, from leadership roles at firms like CenturyLink and Cogent.
Etienne said he focuses on three main aspects when working with a client:
- Assessing customers’ business goals to strategize how Amazon Web Services can bring value and help reach those goals.
- Navigating how to best train and get the client’s staff ready to implement and use the new technology.
- An ongoing “feedback loop” that involves introducing new technology and tying it to business outcomes.
“I’m being trusted to do my job. I love that piece,” he said. “My goal when I got here was to become a leader of leaders. Leading people is what I do.”
A Light for Others
Each day, Etienne chooses to be a beacon of light for others. Whether that’s being a listening ear, or giving some the encouragement they need to go for that leadership role, he’s committed to the cause. Beyond mentorship, Etienne believes tech is one of the greatest economic equalizers, but only if more people like him are willing to lift as they climb. It also means looking at technology and innovative ways to help make people’s lives easier, like through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
For example, a prescription company could use AI to let customers ask questions about a child’s medical history, send the information to a nurse, receive recommendations, and deliver options directly to the parent, streamlining the process without needing direct nurse or doctor interaction. He said this type of intelligence can be built into any industry.
“Ultimately, you’ll either adapt or get left behind,” and Etienne is working to help people avoid that from happening.
Whether it’s through advice, mentorship, or just being a listening ear, Etienne is on a mission to help others.
This article is part of our monthly Amazon series highlighting the human beings behind the company. This news coverage is sponsored by Amazon.
