Angelina Howard

I’m often asked, “How can I engage and contribute to OpenSearch? How can my business innovate with OpenSearch?” Having been part of the OpenSearch community for 1.5 years while working at Amazon, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible growth of this vibrant, collaborative ecosystem. What’s even more exciting is the new chapter for OpenSearch: with its move under the Linux Foundation’s vendor-neutral umbrella, we are unlocking fresh opportunities for innovation and community-driven governance. As OpenSearch evolves, it continues to integrate with leading technologies like OpenTelemetry and Grafana, allowing businesses to leverage its capabilities to scale observability solutions across diverse, multi-cloud infrastructures. This makes OpenSearch not just a search engine, but a key player in next-gen observability and cloud-native applications. In my session at #KubeCon, we’ll explore: - The strategic roadmap for OpenSearch in 2024-2025, highlighting where the project is headed and what this means for your business. - The latest observability innovations, including how OpenSearch is evolving to meet the needs of modern, distributed applications. - Practical steps on how your business can engage with and contribute to the OpenSearch community, driving both industry impact and internal growth. Whether you’re a seasoned contributor or just beginning your journey into open-source, OpenSearch offers incredible opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and scale within a growing, supportive community. In my session, we’ll dive into how you can: - Engage with OpenSearch to make a real impact on the project’s future. - Use its powerful observability tools to streamline cloud operations and boost efficiency. - Discover new ways to innovate and grow your business through open-source contributions that provide tangible benefits. 📅 Join me at #KubeCon SLC 2024 to explore how your organization can be part of this exciting movement. Whether you’re looking to engage with the OpenSearch project or understand how it can help your business thrive, this session will provide the roadmap to success. 🚀 Link to my session is in the comments.   #OpenSearch #Observability #OpenSource #CloudNative #LinuxFoundation #Innovation #aws

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I'm seeing a lot of debate about Return to Office (RTO). More than anything, I think we need to question the real motives behind this push. Despite no solid data-backed evidence showing that in-office work is more productive than remote or hybrid models, companies like Amazon are now mandating employees to come in five days a week https://lnkd.in/d5X4ECPJ But here are some important points/facts to consider: 💡 During the pandemic, when 100% of workers were remote, many companies—including Amazon—saw their stock prices hit all-time highs. Clearly, remote work did not hinder performance. If anything, it accelerated innovation while providing employees with flexibility. 🔍 So why the push for RTO now? Some argue that it’s a subtle form of workforce reduction—a cheaper layoff strategy. Employees unable or unwilling to comply with strict office attendance could leave voluntarily, saving companies the cost and complexity of formal layoffs. 🏙️ There’s also a growing belief that the RTO mandates aren’t entirely about productivity, but about complying with business owners and city government pressure to boost local economies. Downtown areas and commercial real estate markets, which rely heavily on office workers, have been hit hard by the shift to remote work. 📊 But if productivity wasn’t compromised and companies thrived in remote environments, who benefits from forcing employees back into the office? Clearly it is a way to more forceful control employees and make all that real state investment in office buildings worth while. The future of work should focus on employee well-being, flexibility, and outcomes, not outdated notions that being in the office is the only path to success. Is RTO truly about collaboration and culture, or are we seeing a strategic move to cut costs (do a cheaper layoff?) and appease external stakeholders? #RTO #WFH

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What did they miss? What would you add? Put it in the comments As WW VP of EQ Champions Affinity group at Amazon, I talk to leaders all over the world about how to inspire and connect with their people. The other day, I met with C-level execs and asked them"💼 What makes someone highly likeable? What did they miss? What would you add? Put it in the comments. Here are 10 key characteristics that not only attract others but also cultivate strong professional relationships: Authenticity: Genuine individuals who stay true to themselves naturally draw others in. Empathy: Understanding and empathizing with others fosters trust and connection. Positive Attitude: Optimism is contagious and creates a welcoming atmosphere. Good Listener: Actively listening shows respect and makes others feel valued. Humility: Being humble and recognizing the contributions of others builds rapport and camaraderie. Reliability: Consistently delivering on promises and being dependable earns respect and admiration. Adaptability: Flexibility and openness to new ideas make interactions smoother and more enjoyable. Sense of Humor: A well-placed joke or lightheartedness can break the ice and build rapport. Confidence Without Arrogance: Confidence is attractive, but humility keeps it in check and makes it more relatable. Generosity: Giving freely of time, resources, and knowledge fosters goodwill and strengthens relationships. Cultivating these traits not only makes you more likeable but also enhances your professional network and opportunities. Which characteristic resonates most with you? #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #Likeability" #eq #motivation #selfaware #selfmanagement #leader #empathy #leadwithempathy

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While I never formally crossed paths, did not know her personally or work directly with her-- she pioneered SO much for women in tech and beyond. She established incredible health benefits for us, championed us and the future of females in STEM and she did so while she passionately pursued her own career and personal goals. Cancer is devastating...it directly impacted me/my family and I pray for her family as they continue this journey without her physically here and figure out their new normal. She's left one hell of a legacy and path for others following behind her. Here's a few points I want to highlight. 1) Personal should always be priority #1. Not just in moments like these but every day. Wake up and prioritize you, your family, wellbeing, etc. The work and professional needs will always be there. 2) Career paths should be driven by impact and influence. Make this place better than when you joined--in anyway you can. So what if it's never or "not done that way"? Do it anyway and show the world why it matters. Whatever your "it" may be. 3) No, none of the above is easy. But it's important. So do it anyways, do it even if/when it's hard. https://lnkd.in/gWcWBdGG

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At Amazon, I have spoken with thousands of leaders about what it takes to lead successfully in an uncertain and rapidly changing world. I hear from my customers that they feel burnt out or they can't focus. Or even worse they're nervous about something. Here's a quick EQ tip to help. Ever found yourself nervous about an upcoming challenge, interview, or opportunity? I've been there too! But here's the secret sauce: reframing that nervous energy into excitement can be a game-changer. Here's why: When we say we're 'excited,' we're actually shifting our mindset from one of fear to one of anticipation and possibility. Instead of dwelling on what could go wrong, we focus on the potential for success and growth. This simple shift in language can empower us to tackle challenges head-on, with enthusiasm and confidence. So next time you feel those butterflies fluttering, embrace them as a sign of excitement! By acknowledging and embracing our nerves as excitement, we unlock our potential to conquer our fears and achieve our goals. #EmbraceExcitement #OvercomeFear #MindsetMatters #emotionalintelligence #eq #selfmanagement #selfawareness #leader #motivation

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A few highlights from a monster shopping event. Amazon Prime Day increased 11% vs. LY per Adobe Analytics. U.S. consumers spent a record-breaking $14.2B across July 16th & 17th. To put the figure in context, it's nearly Gap Inc.'s annual volume. ♦ Mobile penetration was 49% (shopping on phones +18%) ♦ AOV was $58. Key areas were back-to-school (BTS) and electronics. I noticed beauty brands (i.e. Sol de Janeiro) and Dyson deals ♦ Amazon says its Rufus AI assistant helped millions of customers with their shopping. #futureofcommerce #futureofretail #ecommerce #retail #innovation #bts #genai #brands #digital

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