Coursera CEO Shares Insights from Amazon Experience

Lessons from Jeff Bezos' Leadership

Greg Hart, the current CEO of Coursera, spent more than 20 years working directly under Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and current CEO Andy Jassy. His experience at Amazon, which began in 1997 when the company had only about 200 employees, taught him valuable lessons that he now applies to Coursera, the online learning platform valued at US$1.35 billion.

Maintaining Company Culture

Hart recalled that Bezos was deeply involved in the hiring process, often conducting personal interviews with nearly all employees to maintain the company's early culture. 'Bezos wanted to ensure that the spirit, customer focus, high standards, and work speed remained the essence of Amazon as the company grew,' Hart said, reflecting on his time at Amazon.

Applying Amazon Lessons to Coursera

The experience and insights gained from Amazon have significantly influenced Coursera's development as an online education platform. Hart's understanding of maintaining high standards and customer focus has been particularly valuable in shaping Coursera's offerings and growth strategy.