Ann Kinyanjui, a Kenyan finance manager at Amazon, credits her career success to the company's leadership principle: "Have Backbone, Disagree and Commit". This approach encourages employees to question decisions, including those made by their managers, as long as they can defend their positions. Once a decision is reached, everyone is expected to support it. Kinyanjui believes this approach has shaped her into one of the youngest executives at Amazon, allowing her to contribute different perspectives and improve decision-making.
Kinyanjui's career began with a decision to abandon an interest in chemistry for business. Growing up in a family of seven children with entrepreneurial parents, she was exposed early to the demands of running a business. She initially studied for the Certified Public Accountant qualification before joining Strathmore University, where she opted for a Bachelor of Commerce degree. After graduating, she joined Hallmark Advertising and Marketing as a graduate trainee in 2017 and rose to head of finance within three years.
Kinyanjui's work at Hallmark Advertising and Marketing brought her into contact with leaders from major corporate clients, including Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Unga Group. The company's expansion into five other countries also exposed her to differences in how businesses operated across markets. This experience led her to apply for an MBA at Cornell University in the US, where she enrolled in August 2023. Her desire for international exposure ultimately led her to apply for an internship at Amazon.
The internship at Amazon was highly competitive, even among Kinyanjui's fellow MBA students. Out of a class of 283 people and multiple interviews, she was the only one selected for the finance programme. The internship eventually led to a full-time offer as a finance manager in August 2025. Kinyanjui says that at times it feels like a dream, and she is still adjusting to her new role.
Based in Seattle, Kinyanjui works in Amazon's Devices department, handling products such as Fire TVs and speakers. Her responsibilities include advising leaders on investment decisions, assessing expected returns on investments, and helping determine which products and business opportunities merit spending. Her coverage extends to Canada and Mexico, and she currently handles about 12 devices, working with different business partners to assess their commercial prospects.
Kinyanjui has also had to deal with the challenge of leading people who may have more years of experience than she does. Rather than constantly trying to prove herself, she has learned to build trust by listening to colleagues, respecting their experience, and being consistent in her decisions. For her, leadership does not mean having every answer; it means being confident in what she brings to the role while remaining willing to learn from others.
Kinyanjui acknowledges that technology is changing the role of executives, including in finance. Artificial intelligence tools help her handle some of the administrative tasks, allowing her to focus on more strategic decisions. With her experience and skills, Kinyanjui is well-positioned to continue making big finance calls at Amazon and inspiring other young professionals to pursue their goals.
Key points
- Ann Kinyanjui is one of the youngest executives at Amazon, overseeing finance operations in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
- Kinyanjui credits her success to Amazon's leadership principle: "Have Backbone, Disagree and Commit".
- She has learned to build trust by listening to colleagues, respecting their experience, and being consistent in her decisions.
