Name one person in your life that you consider a mentor. What impact have they had on you?
This is another question designed to gain further insight into what type of leadership you would stand to bring with you to Amazon. By learning more about a mentor you looked up to, they can determine the type of leader you model yourself after. So consider what it was about that mentor who had such an impact on you, what you learned from them, and how those lessons keep informing your professional growth and the decisions you make as a leader.
"My grandfather has always been my biggest mentor. He instilled in me the value of a strong work ethic and never backing down from a challenge. Instilling these values has allowed me to achieve my master's degree while working full-time and with a young child. Not a day goes by that I don't reflect on something my grandfather taught me."
"I would say my older brother was a mentor. He was as happy-go-lucky as they come. If you had a problem, he would find a solution with determination and wouldn't give up until it was done, often by the most unconventional means. He was disabled and frequently in pain. That never stopped him from laughing, listening, and giving his all. He would give you the shirt off his own back, and he frequently did. Nothing could stop him from being a hero to those who needed one."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
My mentor was my meditation coach. He was recommended by a friend, but I was rather skeptical about the whole thing because I had always associated meditation with mysticism and hippies. Nevertheless, I think that you should challenge your personal beliefs. So the first time we met up, we ended up chatting for most of the session and he asked me to just sit and breathe deeply and relax. I discovered that I couldn't do that simple task, and that piqued my curiosity. What I liked the most was his patience, his gentle challenges to self-observe how I react to different circumstances, and the conversations that ensued as I tried to explain what I had discovered. I think his influence has made me more self-aware and observant of others.
Marcie's Feedback
Your response here is heartfelt and sincere, which the interviewer will undoubtedly appreciate. Were you eventually able to breathe deeply and relax on demand? Has meditation been beneficial in your life? (On a personal note, I was recently asked to do the same by a new trainer I have, and I also have trouble simply breathing deeply! It's not as easy as it sounds :)
Anonymous Answer
Ove -
Strong confident
Nonemotional, pragmatic, always available/approachable
Fair, smart
backs his employees
Marcie's Feedback
Great! Can you talk more about who Ove is and how you know him? It sounds like you appreciate a lot of his qualities. Have you tried to model your own behavior after his? In what ways did he back his employees and do you try to do the same with your own team members? The more details you give, the better!
Anonymous Answer
A mentor inspires others to be better versions of themselves; put others first; focus on relationships; and build long-term trust - whilst also remaining true to the facts. Such a mentor I had in my direct line manager ______. He was a master class in soft skills. Rather than telling me what to do, he would listen, empathize, then guide me using examples from his past that he found useful in his own career development. For example, when I misinterpreted the feedback of a German colleague as being unempathetic, _______ told me that he too often had a difficult time dealing with more direct and to-the-point cultures than his native Italy. _______ shared with me a brilliant book on Amazon titled "The Culture Map". The book highlighted that there are many interpretations of being late; some lead a bit more with their head, whilst others with their heart; one is not necessarily better than the other and all of these behaviors are learned. By being empathetic himself, He guided me away from rash judgment that my German colleague was being rude. The respect he demonstrated to me by investing time to listen and understand my concerns that made him a great leader and mentor. I felt genuinely cared for and that inspired me to be more like him. _______ became my trusted advisor in both head and heart. His success was my success.
Marcie's Feedback
Wow! This is an amazing response that comes across as very sincere. You do a great job of describing your mentor and what he meant/means to you. Any interviewer would be highly impressed. Plus, they will remember your response because it's from the heart and genuine. Excellent job!!
Unlock all 54 Amazon questions
Unlock responses designed for Amazon's rigorous behavioral and technical interview loops.
Get Started