Jon Derkits

BEST@AMAZON NEWSLETTER --> https://bestatamazon.ck.page/

QUICK CHAT --> https://tidycal.com/jonderkits/quick-chat
AMAZON COACHING & ADVISORY --> https://tidycal.com/jonderkits/amazon-coaching-and-advisory

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Hi, I'm Jon and I'm a builder. 

Over the course of my 15-year career in management consulting and technology companies, I've built teams, I've built processes, I've built products, and I've built businesses (the 10-figure kind). I'm at my best when I'm in a role with scope and significance, and my superpower is consistency.

Some things I'm GOOD at include dealing with ambiguity and making good decisions in fast-paced, uncertain environments. Some things I'm *GREAT* at include obsessing over customers and developing my people.

Follow me here on LinkedIn if you want to hear my thoughts on Amazon, building great teams, or the current state of Chicago sports.

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CLIFTON STRENGTHS
Harmony, Achiever, Learner, Positivity, Ideation

DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE
eCommerce, Marketplaces/Platforms, Valuation 

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
Business Performance Measurement, Category Management, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Financial Statement Analysis, Lean Six Sigma, P&L Ownership, Strategic Planning, Team Leadership, Written Communication

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Amazon Seller Central, Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Microsoft Office, SQL, Tableau

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)

One common trait among true “A” players 👇


Regardless of whatever bar or standard you set for them, their *internal* standard for themselves will always be higher.

This type of intrinsic drive and pressure doesn’t come without costs though (see: Four Burners Theory).

So make sure that you proactively take care of these folks, and look out for the whole person; not just the work part.

Buying & Building eCommerce Agencies | Ex-Amazon

I woke up at 5am today to listen to the recording of Amazon's Q4 2025 earnings call, so that you don't have to. Here are the 4 most important takeaways: 👇 

1) CAPEX is exploding to $200B in 2026(!)

This is Amazon's all-in bet on AI dominance, and they are prioritizing data centers, custom chips, and infrastructure.

🔑 Quote: "We expect to invest about $200 billion in capital expenditures across Amazon, but predominantly in AWS, because we have very high demand. Customers really want AWS for core and AI workloads. And we are monetizing capacity as fast as we can install it."

2) AWS is roaring back with 24% growth, reclaiming its cloud throne amid AI frenzy. 

Hitting a $142B run rate, it's accelerating at its fastest rate in 13 quarters, and it's being driven by migrations, custom silicon like Trainium, and a $244B backlog.

🔑 Quote: "AWS growth continued to accelerate to 24%, the fastest we've seen in thirteen quarters. Up $2.6 billion quarter over quarter and nearly $7 billion year over year. AWS is now a $142 billion annualized run rate business."

3) Advertising hit $21.3B with 23% growth, becoming one of Amazon's biggest profit engines. 

The growth here was fueled by Prime Video expansion and AI-driven targeting, where Amazon continues to make investments. 

🔑 Quote:  "Our ads team is also innovating with AI. We recently announced our ads agent, which lets brands use AI to create and optimize campaigns at scale, implement effective campaign targeting, and quickly create actionable insights. And our creative agent lets advertisers research, brainstorm, and generate full funnel ad campaigns from concept to completion using conversational guidance in Amazon's retail data transforming what was a weeks long process into just hours."

4) Customers are rapidly adopting Rufus.

Nearly 300M customers have used Rufus in the past year. And, in 2025, Rufus generated $10B in incremental GMV.
 
🔑 Quote: "Our Agentic AI shopping assistant, Rufus, is rapidly expanding. Customers who used Rufus are about 60% more likely to complete a purchase."

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#amazon
#aws
#amazonads

In case you haven't been following the social zeitgeist and internet discourse...

Yesterday, Claude pre-released its Super Bowl ad set, which took a BIG swing at AI companies that plan to monetize through ads (*cough* OpenAI *cough*).

The ads were...kinda funny. 

Even Sam Altman lol'ed at them. But, then went on to intellectualize and defend OpenAI's decision.

And there are internet warriors on both sides, arguing in support of Claude's ads or arguing in support of OpenAI's decision to monetize through ads. 

But, while the professional marketers, media intellectuals, and AI evangelists debate whether the ads were good or bad, right or wrong, pretty or ugly, I can't help but notice...

The average person: 
1) Likes them
2) Likes them enough to tell their friends

There's a lesson in there somewhere, if you're a marketer.

What if the key to disrupting a stale $100 billion category just came down to...

...Innovative packaging

I don't know if that is true in every category, or at all.

But, as a consumer, I love seeing brands differentiate with their packaging.

Los Angeles Superior Court

Principal Human Resources Analyst

Senior Human Resources Analyst

Amazon

-Investigate highly sensitive ER issues such as discrimination and sexual harassment claims.
-Influence site HR and operations leaders through strong communication around recommended outcomes. 
-Support facilities across the U.S. with ER investigations and created relationships with cross functional teams while working virtually.

HR Investigator

-Planned and attended Career Fairs, Information sessions, and Lunch and learns to source qualified candidates.
-Consistently sourced and sent InMail’s to over 1,000 candidates on LinkedIn Recruiter. 
-Consistently recruited potential candidates to fulfill open roles at an 80% success rate.

Interim University Recruiter

- Partnered with client groups to efficiently plan labor assumptions to project site attendance and attrition. 
- Tracked manager performance through talent review and implemented development strategies for employees.
- Supervised team of Senior HR Assistants and oversaw daily HR standard work and all special projects. 
- Supported employees with daily HR needs such as attendance, benefits, leave and accommodation, and compensation. 
- Re-engineered the Self-Service process by introducing the HR hub with A to Z kiosk improving Self-Service utilization by 4% in 2 months across the IXD West network.  
- Oversaw recruitment efforts  for the Senior HR Assistant and Process Assistant roles.
- Conducted ER investigations for site including but not limited to workplace violence, reasonable suspicion, and Suicidal Ideations. 
- Implemented an attrition survey along with a recognition plan that helped improve Part Time attrition by 47%.

Human Resources Business Partner

- Organized and executed Associate engagement events improving site employee engagement by 30%.
- Launched the Engagement Fun Committee using new social distancing guidelines. 
- Supported employees daily with time and attendance, investigations, and accommodations. 
- Converted over 900 seasonal employees to permanent employees in 6 months. 
- Managed and presented HR metrics on daily deep dives.
- Conducted COVID 19 contact tracing and tracked and reported on all of the sites COVID cases.

Senior Human Resource Assistant

- Area Manager for Outbound AFE1 Pack responsible for directing 80+ associates in the safe and efficient completion of their work, packing and processing inventory.
- Track metrics to identify areas of opportunity and implemented countermeasures to drive process improvements in productivity, quality, and safety.
- Developed two Process Guides and two Process Assistants to effectively run department in my absence.
- Developed a strong work culture, through daily coaching, performance feedback, and motivation among 80+ associates.
- Identified areas of opportunity within the water-spidering process in the department and took corrective action, to improve overall safety, quality, and productivity of the department.
- Mentored and developed multiple tier 1 associates resulting in improved shift productivity and several individual promotions.
- Onboarded and developed 1 external hire Area Manager.

Area Manager

- Adjust insurance claims
- Provide legendary customer service to insurance members
- Interpret policy and identify coverage
- Analyze claims and negotiate settlement
- Vice President of the Employee Engagement committee
- Provide legendary customer service to insurance members
- Analyze claims and negotiate settlement
- Vice President of the Employee Engagement committee

Claims Service Representative

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

- Demonstrable experience in training new employees and maintaining branch productivity
- As an ATM sole custodian I process the deposit settlements, maintain optimal cash levels for withdrawal.
- Processed quarterly Vault and ATM audits with a zero error rate.
- Executed customer transactions, including deposits, withdrawals, money orders and checks.
- Closely supports management in maintaining operational control. 
- Works with Banker Support in order to ensure effective account maintenance. 
- Coordinated daily cash reconciliation at a high-volume location.
- Experience and knowledge of Customer Service processes and best practice
- Experience of working in a high-pressure environment and working to meet tight deadlines
- Assists manager in up-keep of the weekly schedule

Bank Teller

I currently have experience working in Human Resources, Operations, and in the Insurance and banking industries. The professional experience that I have gathered, thus far, has allowed me to demonstrate strong leadership, critical thinking skills, personal integrity and high ethical standards.  I believe that hard work, determination, dedication and good decisions are the attributes required to be successful at any endeavor.  If given the opportunity, I intend to bring these qualities to work with me every day in order to be an asset to the growth of the company. 

I have received  my  Bachelors degree in Psychology, and I also have an AA in Psychology from West Los Angeles College. I am eager to apply my academic achievements to my career aspirations to establish a solid professional foundation for my future.

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