Amazon's worldwide operations are being fueled by graduates from MIT's Leaders for Global Operations program.
In the ever-evolving world of technology and business, the MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program has proven to be a catalyst for success. This unique dual-degree education, which fuses technical engineering, business, and leadership skills, has significantly contributed to the leadership success of John Tagawa, Diego Méndez de la Luz, and Chuck Cummings at Amazon.
John Tagawa, a graduate of the LGO program, joined Amazon in 2008 and now oversees North American operations for the company. He credits the LGO program's singular blueprint for success in his role, offering a strong engineering and technology education that allows him to innovate continuously using robotics, AI, and operational technology to enhance fulfillment center efficiency and inventory management. Equally important was LGO’s integration of business, finance, and leadership education, which deepened his understanding of operational strategy and team leadership.
Diego Méndez de la Luz, another LGO graduate, joined Amazon shortly after completing the program, starting from frontline management roles at fulfillment centers throughout the United States. He now oversees the end-to-end network of imports, fulfillment, transportation, and customer delivery at Amazon in his native country, Mexico, managing over 10,000 employees across 40 facilities. Mendez de la Luz attributes his learning about inventory management, business law, accounting, and workplace communication skills to the LGO program.
Chuck Cummings, also an LGO graduate, leads customer fulfillment throughout Canada for Amazon. He joined Amazon after years as a mechanical engineer, inspired by the collaborative atmosphere at the company. Cummings now leads the customer fulfillment business in Canada, including the country's fulfillment centers, and was instrumental in launching an Amazon robotics fulfillment center in Calgary, Alberta, last year, enhancing services for Canadian customers.
John Tagawa finds Amazon's focus on being Earth's best employer and being customer-obsessed to be energizing as he leads large-scale organizations aimed at improving the lives of employees and customers. Cummings, on the other hand, finds LGO graduates to be exceptional problem solvers, combining technical understanding with strong communication and emotional intelligence skills. He serves as Amazon's co-school captain for LGO, recruiting the next generation of LGO graduates for internships and full-time roles.
Diego Mendez de la Luz and fellow LGO alumni credit the program’s emphasis on dynamic and empathetic leadership combined with technical excellence, matching Amazon’s evolving technological landscape while maintaining enduring leadership principles. This holistic preparation is noted as critical to Amazon’s operational success across North America, Canada, and Mexico.
The late chair and CEO of The Stanley Works, Donald Davis, was one of LGO's first lecturers and had a significant influence on Tagawa's outlook at Amazon, teaching him about servant-leadership and diversity. These lessons have undoubtedly played a role in the success of these LGO alumni at Amazon, shaping their leadership styles and guiding their decisions as they navigate the complexities of managing global operations at scale.
In summary, the MIT LGO program equipped these leaders with advanced engineering knowledge and business acumen, alongside leadership skills, enabling them to effectively innovate, manage, and lead Amazon’s global operations network while mentoring future leaders.
[1] MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) website: https://lgo.mit.edu/ [2] Amazon Careers website: https://www.amazon.jobs/ [3] MIT Sloan School of Management website: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ [4] MIT News website: https://news.mit.edu/
Chuck Cummings leads customer fulfillment throughout Canada for Amazon, a role he finds inspiring as he works to enhance services for Canadian customers. He joined Amazon after years as a mechanical engineer, drawn by the collaborative atmosphere at the company. Cummings now leads the customer fulfillment business in Canada, including the country's fulfillment centers, and was instrumental in launching an Amazon robotics fulfillment center in Calgary, Alberta, last year. This new facility has significantly improved services for Canadian customers.
In addition to his role in Canada, Cummings serves as Amazon's co-school captain for the MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program, recruiting the next generation of LGO graduates for internships and full-time roles. He finds LGO graduates to be exceptional problem solvers, combining technical understanding with strong communication and emotional intelligence skills.
Diego Mendez de la Luz joined Amazon shortly after completing the LGO program, starting from frontline management roles at fulfillment centers throughout the United States. He now oversees the end-to-end network of imports, fulfillment, transportation, and customer delivery at Amazon in his native country, Mexico, managing over 10,000 employees across 40 facilities. Mendez de la Luz attributes his learning about inventory management, business law, accounting, and workplace communication skills to the LGO program.
Mendez de la Luz finds his role at Amazon to be his "dream job" and a source of pride, as it allows him to create good jobs in his native country, Mexico. He has been instrumental in expanding Amazon's operations in Mexico, helping to improve safety, speed, and efficiency in their operations.
John Tagawa, a graduate of the MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program, joined Amazon in 2008 and now oversees North American operations for the company. He credits the LGO program's singular blueprint for success in his role, offering a strong engineering and technology education that allows him to innovate continuously using robotics, AI, and operational technology to enhance fulfillment center efficiency and inventory management. Equally important was LGO’s integration of business, finance, and leadership education, which deepened his understanding of operational strategy and team leadership. This combination helped him develop, coach, and build high-performing leadership teams at Amazon, emphasizing lifelong learning—a core LGO principle.
Tagawa has been instrumental in expanding Amazon's fulfillment centers worldwide and improving safety, speed, and efficiency in their operations. He finds Amazon's focus on being Earth's best employer and being customer-obsessed to be energizing as he leads large-scale organizations aimed at improving the lives of employees and customers.
- The MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program plays a significant role in equipping students with technical engineering, business, and leadership skills.
- John Tagawa, an LGO graduate, now oversees North American operations for Amazon, using his robust engineering and technology education to innovate with robotics, AI, and operational technology.
- Diego Mendez de la Luz, another LGO graduate, manages over 10,000 employees across 40 facilities in Mexico, a role he views as his dream job.
- Chuck Cummings, an LGO alumnus, leads customer fulfillment throughout Canada, influencing the launch of an Amazon robotics fulfillment center in Calgary, Alberta, which has improved services for Canadian customers.
- Cummings serves as Amazon's co-school captain for the LGO program and finds LGO graduates exceptional problem solvers, combining technical understanding with strong communication and emotional intelligence skills.
- Mendez de la Luz credits LGO for his learning about inventory management, business law, accounting, and workplace communication skills.
- Cummings attributes his success at Amazon to the collaborative atmosphere at the company and the holistic preparation provided by the LGO program.
- LGO graduates like Tagawa, Mendez de la Luz, and Cummings have demonstrated resilience in navigating the complexities of managing global operations at scale, guided by the principles of servant-leadership and diversity.
