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)

How I'd fix LinkedIn

1) Add a Copilot button
2) When posts include multiple images, make them swipable carousels (like Instagram); not whatever this garbage UX is called
3) Make it easier to search your own activity history (posts, comments, etc)
4) Reduce AI slop by 50% in 2026, and then by another 50% in 2027. Suppress reach of AI posts and comments.
5) Reduce reach of "comment X for Y" engagement bait posts
6) Implement a Creator Revenue Sharing program, similar to X
7) Create different feed views. One for 1st connections only; one for 1st through 3rd connections (or whatever the feed algo is now); and one for "interests" as defined by the user.
8) Turn LinkedIn into a platform where experts can monetize their expertise more directly -- i.e., build an "intro.co" platform within LinkedIn
9) Fix InMail. At minimum, give me more filing/organizing options than "Focused" and "Other".
10) Get rid of the dumb games feature. If LinkedIn is really meant to be a space for professionals, don't muddy the brand by maintaining this little corner of the platform that is all about juicing user engagement metrics.

Buying & Building eCommerce Agencies | Ex-Amazon

Me, walking away from an otherwise smart LinkedIn post polluted with AI replies

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TWO (RELATED) PREDICTIONS for 2026 👇 

1) AI content will become indistinguishable from human-made content

2) Because of #1, consumers will crave truly authentic human outputs (the pendulum probably won't swing this direction until 2027 or later)

Tell me in the comments why I'm wrong about this 🫠

Lest you feel like you can relax now that Q4 is over, I'll remind you that consumers are sitting on BILLIONS in gift cards from various retailers, just itching to spend them. 

Amazon ALONE reports >$5 billion in unused gift card liabilities on its balance sheet each year.

Amazon hasn't yet filed its FYE Dec 31, 2025 annual report yet, but here's the gift card balances sitting on its balance sheet for the past 3 years:

Dec 31, 2024: $5.6 billion
Dec 31, 2023: $5.3 billion
Dec 31, 2022: $5.4 billion

To put this in perspective, if Amazon were a bank, this amount of "deposits" would put it in the Top 10% of largest banks in the country.

#amazon
#amazonfba
#amazonsellers

This is Amazon's 4th attempt at Making Retail Great Again.

Over the past decade, Amazon has tried (and mostly failed) with:

-Amazon Books (bookstores, duh)
-Amazon 4-Star (gift-focused outlet)
-Amazon Go (automated grab-and-go stores)
-Amazon Fresh (mainstream grocery)

I'll go on the record here:

👉  I don't think Amazon will succeed with the big box format.

I think the only shot that Amazon has at winning in physical retail is to copy the Costco warehouse club format, and create an exclusive bulk buying experience for its Prime members.

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#amazon
#ecommerce
#retail

The big news from CES 2026 that *no one* is talking about...

👉  Amazon is pivoting from a "hardware-first" strategy to an "AI-services-first" model

And the cornerstone of this pivot is the launch of Alexa.com, which brings the generative AI-powered Alexa+ directly to people's browsers.

Here's why this matters:

1) For the first time, users do not need an Echo speaker to enter the Alexa ecosystem. 

By launching a web-based chat interface at Alexa.com, Amazon is moving into direct, side-by-side competition with ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

2) Amazon's differentiator isn't just "smarter" conversation; it's the ability to execute workflows (particularly shopping-related workflows). 

Alexa+ is being positioned as a "personal chief of staff".

3) This will further fuel the Amazon Prime flywheel.

Alexa+ will cost $19.99/month as a standalone subscription. BUT: It is included for free with an Amazon Prime membership.

At roughly $240/year for the standalone AI vs. the $139/year Prime membership, Prime becomes an even more obvious value proposition for heavy AI users.

#ces2026
#amazon
#amazonalexa

Amazon's big announcement at CES is that it is pivoting from a "hardware-first" strategy to an "AI-services-first" model. 

University of Pennsylvania

Executive Coach, Educator, Author, and Learning Designer with over 25 years of global experience in higher education and leadership development. Specializing in leadership development, executive presence, and intercultural management (through a biblical worldview). Demonstrated success in designing and teaching online and in-person courses for executives, graduate students, and public leaders. Certified coach (PCC - ICF) with deep expertise in developing and delivering impactful learning experiences aligned with leadership competencies and institutional missions.

Professor

The Intercultural Leader Institute

I empower leaders with cultural competence through executive courses, coaching, and consulting in order to meet the challenges of leading in a multicultural workforce and world.

Founder

LifeHikes®

Executive coaching for worldwide success. LifeHikes is a global professional training company created to help you navigate the path to lifelong growth.

Coach

International Coaching Federation

ACC Coach

Fulbright Association

The Fulbright Program is the leading international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Taught in conjunction with Sichuan University.

Fulbright Scholar to China

Fulbright Scholar

Fulbright Association- Scholar to China

University of Notre Dame

Delivered cutting edge instruction regarding the importance of cultural competence and communication skills in global leadership to BBA, MBA, and EMBA students. Developed and led cross-cultural learning programs to China.  Developed and taught executive courses for business students.

Associate Professor Intercultural Management

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

CUHK - developed a Management Communication Program for the School of Hotel Management; Wharton - taught in the Communication Program and Executive Education

Assistant Professor

The Wharton School

MBA Communication Program and Executive MBA Program

Associate Director

Founder, The Intercultural Leader Institute - Empowering leaders to manage the tough conversations with people who think, act, and believe differently / Fulbright Scholar to China

+Someone on your team is offended and has complained
+Team members are walking on eggshells
+You don't know what to say or do 

𝐈 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤, 𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲... 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝

The Intercultural Leader Institute offers: Online courses, coaching, and consulting to empower leaders with cultural competence.   Check us out at:   𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫.𝐜𝐨𝐦

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One of the things I learned when taking Tango lessons in Buenos Aires is just how unpredictable the rhythms, steps, and music can be. Tango can be spirited and lively but also intense and melancholy. The leader chooses how and where to move according to the beat of the music while the follower has to be alert to the subtle movements and rhythmic nuances. 

Both are leaders AND followers simultaneously.

It’s a beautiful yet complicated  dance that requires attention, concentration, and intuition; and by working together the dancers seamlessly glide across the floor.  

Isn’t this similar at work where we try to get along with each other, whether leaders or followers? Today it's hard to navigate sensitive conversations and interactions regarding politics, religion, race, ethnicity, and gender.  All too often we feel like we’re just clumsily stepping on someone else’s toes.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CLIENTS INCLUDE:  Boeing, Virginia Department of Corrections, and Verizon Wireless. She has taught and consulted for over 20 years with a variety of clients, such as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, AXA, Vanguard, the U.S. Marines, Panasonic Japan, China Development Bank, and HSBC

UNIVERSITY AFFILIATIONS:  Wharton School; Chinese University of Hong Kong; University of Notre Dame; Sichuan University, Chengdu, Chin; Shanghai International Studies University (EMBA, MBA, undergrads

HONORS: Fulbright Scholar in Chengdu, China (2017-2018) at Sichuan University.

EXPERTISE: Intercultural Communication and Global Leadership

EDUCATION: Ph.D. in Education/Communication; MS Edu Intercultural Communication/Sociolinguistics, University of Pennsylvania

BOOKS: Intercultural Communication for Global Leadership: How Leaders Communicate for Success, Routledge, 2021 (2e).

ACC (Associate Certified Coach) through the International Coaching Federation.

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Jon Derkits

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jon Derkits's LinkedIn Performance

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