This Former Amazon VP Has 1 Piece of Advice About Scoring a Promotion

Ethan Evans tells those looking for a promotion to be pushy.

BY MOSES JEANFRANCOIS, NEWS WRITER @MOSESJEANS

Illustration: Getty Images

While there’s no single secret to getting the promotion you want, there are some characteristics that can help you along the way. According to a former vice president of Amazon, Ethan Evans, it’s all about speaking up, whether you like it or not.

The retired VP recently appeared on The Peterman Pod, touching on topics like corporate politics, empire building, and the best shot at getting a promotion. “If you never ask for anything, you’ll never get anything,” says Evans. 

Evans started at Amazon back in 2005 as a senior manager of Digital Video, overseeing the launch of Amazon’s Unbox Video Download service. He climbed the ranks during his 15-year stint at the company, eventually becoming the vice president of multiple departments for about seven years. 

He told those looking to follow a similar path to embrace speaking up, even when it makes them uncomfortable. “You can end up behind just because you’re such a nice guy.” 

How Anthropic's Claude AI Became a Co-Founder

Evans said that his experience helping people advance their careers taught him that pushy employees often get opportunities first. 

“There is some truth to the old saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease. This is another harsh truth people don’t like,” he said. Peters explained that when two people perform equally well, managers often prioritize the one who speaks up. 

He cautioned, however, that competition can become malice, something that could be detrimental to you in the long run. 

© Inc.com