Alexander Southwick - Socials Operation Manager - Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios

Summary

Xander Southwick, the Social Operations Manager for Amazon Prime Video, shares his career journey in the field of social media. He discusses his role in creating processes and operational ways of working to unlock more capacity for creative work and engage with customers. 

Xander emphasises the importance of being open to new opportunities and evolving with the ever-changing social media landscape. He also highlights the value of gaining different perspectives by working in various roles throughout your career. Xander credits mentors, such as David Redhill, for providing guidance and helping him develop a well-rounded view of the industry. 

Xander shares his career journey, starting from his early days in advertising and transitioning to social media marketing. He worked with various companies, including Fairfax, The Trade Desk, Carro, and Bastion, before joining Amazon. Xander emphasises the importance of having mentors and seeking guidance when navigating through career choices. He also highlights the significance of internal stakeholder management and the need for continuous improvement in the marketing industry. Xander's passion for gaming and his expertise in process and operations have shaped his current role as a social operations manager at Amazon.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Current Job
02:08 Early Days of Social Media and SEO
05:42 Career Aspirations in High School
08:05 First Job and Customer Centricity
11:50 Transition to Creative Advertising Agency
22:31 Navigating Ambiguous Times in Career
26:48 Importance of Mentors and Gaining Perspective
30:34 Navigating the Challenges of the Advertising Industry
33:12 Transitioning Between Roles and Gaining Valuable Experiences
43:19 The Significance of Process and Operations in Marketing
53:26 Adapting to Change and Embracing Ambiguity
59:25 Building Relationships and Driving Sales in Marketing
01:03:30 The Future of Marketing: Sales and Operational Efficiency