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Profiles in Pay: Mike Jan

Hear from one of our talented Solutions Architects on what working at Amazon Pay means to him, and why the latest addition to the leadership principles also happens to be his favorite.

Can you start off by telling us a little bit about you?


I was born in Taiwan but I’ve been transient since I was a kid. So far, I’ve lived in six countries and four different states in the US. I think moving around so much is part of why I’m so passionate about traveling and seeking new experiences.


I’ve been on a lot of adventures but I rarely say no to a drink and my favorite pastime is sharing a good meal with good people so I’d be happy to answer this question in person!


Can you tell us about how you joined Amazon Pay? What drew you here?


My first job out of college was at a start-up and I realized that I really enjoyed working in that type of environment. I knew I wanted to join Amazon Pay after the hiring manager described it as a start-up within the larger company. Four years later and I’m still confident I made the right decision.


What does a typical day look like for you?


The primary responsibility of a Solutions Architect is helping businesses integrate Amazon Pay. This means that a typical day is some combination of working on integrations, creating developer content or tools, and collaborating with internal teams to define and launch new product features… all intermixed with multiple trips to the local coffee shop.


What is your favorite leadership principle and why?


My current favorite is one of the newest leadership principles - Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer. The leadership principle is a commitment to creating a better work environment and I’m proud to work at a company that prioritizes its employees.


What is one of the reasons you enjoy working at Amazon Pay?


One of the reasons I enjoy working at Amazon Pay is due to our culture of promoting personal growth. Amazon Pay employees are encouraged to learn new skills and technologies. I’ve taken courses on everything from how to conduct technical interviews to public speaking and I’m currently taking a course on cloud computing.


How does Amazon support your career goals?


Working at Amazon supports my career goals because I’m surrounded by talented and dedicated teammates. I have a terrific mentor and work with an amazing team that push my boundaries but also help me achieve goals that I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish on my own.


What are some of your passions outside of work?


I developed a passion for cooking during the pandemic. I realized that I really enjoy experimenting with new ingredients and cooking methods. I’m currently testing different paella recipes and I plan on crafting my own once I have the basics down.