
? 亞馬遜億萬富翁創(chuàng)始人杰夫·貝佐斯給前助手上過重要一課。那是1997年,剛出任Coursera首席執(zhí)行官的格雷格·哈特當(dāng)年還是亞馬遜的新人。他晉升十分迅速,才過12年就成了貝佐斯得力助手。到現(xiàn)在哈特仍然奉行這一領(lǐng)導(dǎo)理念:“需要首席執(zhí)行官親自決策的事越少,企業(yè)運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)越高效?!?/p>
大學(xué)期間哈特曾在百貨商店諾德斯特龍(Nordstrom)兼職,工作是疊T恤和牛仔褲,他從未想過有朝一日能成為全世界頂級企業(yè)掌門的得力助手——甚至自己也能成為高管。
上世紀(jì)90年代末哈特加入還只是網(wǎng)上書店的亞馬遜,由此開啟了急速晉升之路。到2009年,他已是貝佐斯技術(shù)顧問,這一職位相當(dāng)于高級行政助理,內(nèi)部稱為“影子”。
如今身為Coursera新任首席執(zhí)行官,哈特正運(yùn)用從全球第三富豪貝佐斯(凈資產(chǎn)2410億美元)學(xué)到的經(jīng)驗(yàn),改造在線教育領(lǐng)域。他表示,經(jīng)驗(yàn)當(dāng)中包括保持求知欲以及相信直覺,哪怕數(shù)據(jù)暫時(shí)不支持。
“貝佐斯經(jīng)常說,如果數(shù)據(jù)跟實(shí)際情況不相符,要相信實(shí)際情況,”哈特對《財(cái)富》雜志說,“因?yàn)檫@可能意味著關(guān)注了錯(cuò)誤的數(shù)據(jù),或者數(shù)據(jù)反映了某種真相然而尚未發(fā)覺?!?/p>
這條準(zhǔn)則在哈特受命開發(fā)亞馬遜智能語音助手Alexa時(shí)得到驗(yàn)證,如今他希望在Coursera復(fù)制這一成功經(jīng)驗(yàn)。
“(Coursera)無疑是教育科技領(lǐng)域的領(lǐng)軍者之一,”哈特說,“但尚未達(dá)到我在亞馬遜見證過的突破性成就?!?/p>
借鑒亞馬遜和Alexa的經(jīng)驗(yàn)重塑教育科技
擔(dān)任技術(shù)顧問期間,哈特接到任務(wù)要將貝佐斯關(guān)于虛擬助手的兩句話構(gòu)想轉(zhuǎn)化為產(chǎn)品,即后來的Alexa。
當(dāng)時(shí)哈特在硬件或軟件領(lǐng)域幾乎全無背景,所以他充滿疑慮,“為什么選我做這件事?”
“他(貝佐斯)非常和善。他說,‘你能行,你會(huì)想出辦法的,’”哈特說。
如今內(nèi)嵌Alexa的設(shè)備銷量已超過6億臺(tái),顯然哈特想的辦法確實(shí)不錯(cuò),但貝佐斯給予下屬的信任也功不可沒。哈特說,正是這種成功經(jīng)驗(yàn)推動(dòng)亞馬遜從書店蛻變?yōu)殡娚叹揞^。
“決策權(quán)要盡可能下放給貼近客戶的人,這是我向貝佐斯學(xué)到的重要一課,”他說,“需要首席執(zhí)行官親自決策的事越少,企業(yè)運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)越高效。”
在教育科技日新月異的當(dāng)下,尤其是人工智能與技能培養(yǎng)結(jié)合,快速行動(dòng)可能對Coursera更有利。
Coursera的最大競爭對手之一2U(旗下也擁有edX)去年申請破產(chǎn),變成了私營公司。Coursera在公開市場表現(xiàn)也并不出色。當(dāng)前其股價(jià)約為8.50美元,遠(yuǎn)低于2022年上市時(shí)的約45美元。
不過據(jù)彭博社(Bloomberg)預(yù)測,未來五年預(yù)計(jì)將有10億人接入互聯(lián)網(wǎng),能通過Coursera獲取數(shù)千門在線課程,其中包括與谷歌、微軟和IBM等企業(yè),以及與斯坦福大學(xué)、密歇根大學(xué)和賓夕法尼亞大學(xué)等高校的合作項(xiàng)目。
“Coursera將迎來巨大機(jī)遇,不僅能為現(xiàn)有網(wǎng)民提供改變命運(yùn)的世界級教育,還能為即將進(jìn)入互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的人群提供機(jī)會(huì),”哈特說。
哈特給Z世代的建議:以學(xué)習(xí)為目標(biāo),多問為什么
對于希望在企業(yè)里穩(wěn)步上升,渴望復(fù)制從諾德斯特龍到亞馬遜成功故事的年輕人,哈特的建議很簡單:專心學(xué)習(xí),不要只盯著光鮮的頭銜或高薪。
“不要只追求頭銜或薪資,要追求成長。只要能長期堅(jiān)持,終將有收獲,”他告訴《財(cái)富》。
雖然這番話出自教育公司首席執(zhí)行官之口略顯老套,但把職業(yè)生涯當(dāng)作馬拉松而非短跑,花時(shí)間發(fā)掘更廣泛的興趣,也是其他商界領(lǐng)袖認(rèn)同的理念,包括哈特的前同事安迪?賈西。
“我兒子21歲,女兒24歲,我發(fā)現(xiàn)他們和同齡人總認(rèn)為這個(gè)年齡就必須確定人生方向,”現(xiàn)任亞馬遜首席執(zhí)行官賈西在《大衛(wèi)?諾瓦克的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力指南》(How Leaders Lead with David Novak)播客中說,“我覺得真不是這樣。”
“我嘗試過很多事,我認(rèn)為剛工作的時(shí)候弄清楚自己不想做什么和想做什么同樣重要,因?yàn)槿绱瞬拍芟肭宄嬲胱龅氖?,”賈西補(bǔ)充說。
賈西承認(rèn)職業(yè)成功需要一定的運(yùn)氣也難免挫折,但堅(jiān)持不懈最終才可能迎來機(jī)會(huì)。
“我覺得自己的職業(yè)生涯或者說冒險(xiǎn)非常幸運(yùn),或許最正確的就是不過度糾結(jié),”賈西向諾瓦克補(bǔ)充道。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:梁宇
審校:夏林
? 亞馬遜億萬富翁創(chuàng)始人杰夫·貝佐斯給前助手上過重要一課。那是1997年,剛出任Coursera首席執(zhí)行官的格雷格·哈特當(dāng)年還是亞馬遜的新人。他晉升十分迅速,才過12年就成了貝佐斯得力助手。到現(xiàn)在哈特仍然奉行這一領(lǐng)導(dǎo)理念:“需要首席執(zhí)行官親自決策的事越少,企業(yè)運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)越高效。”
大學(xué)期間哈特曾在百貨商店諾德斯特龍(Nordstrom)兼職,工作是疊T恤和牛仔褲,他從未想過有朝一日能成為全世界頂級企業(yè)掌門的得力助手——甚至自己也能成為高管。
上世紀(jì)90年代末哈特加入還只是網(wǎng)上書店的亞馬遜,由此開啟了急速晉升之路。到2009年,他已是貝佐斯技術(shù)顧問,這一職位相當(dāng)于高級行政助理,內(nèi)部稱為“影子”。
如今身為Coursera新任首席執(zhí)行官,哈特正運(yùn)用從全球第三富豪貝佐斯(凈資產(chǎn)2410億美元)學(xué)到的經(jīng)驗(yàn),改造在線教育領(lǐng)域。他表示,經(jīng)驗(yàn)當(dāng)中包括保持求知欲以及相信直覺,哪怕數(shù)據(jù)暫時(shí)不支持。
“貝佐斯經(jīng)常說,如果數(shù)據(jù)跟實(shí)際情況不相符,要相信實(shí)際情況,”哈特對《財(cái)富》雜志說,“因?yàn)檫@可能意味著關(guān)注了錯(cuò)誤的數(shù)據(jù),或者數(shù)據(jù)反映了某種真相然而尚未發(fā)覺?!?/p>
這條準(zhǔn)則在哈特受命開發(fā)亞馬遜智能語音助手Alexa時(shí)得到驗(yàn)證,如今他希望在Coursera復(fù)制這一成功經(jīng)驗(yàn)。
“(Coursera)無疑是教育科技領(lǐng)域的領(lǐng)軍者之一,”哈特說,“但尚未達(dá)到我在亞馬遜見證過的突破性成就。”
借鑒亞馬遜和Alexa的經(jīng)驗(yàn)重塑教育科技
擔(dān)任技術(shù)顧問期間,哈特接到任務(wù)要將貝佐斯關(guān)于虛擬助手的兩句話構(gòu)想轉(zhuǎn)化為產(chǎn)品,即后來的Alexa。
當(dāng)時(shí)哈特在硬件或軟件領(lǐng)域幾乎全無背景,所以他充滿疑慮,“為什么選我做這件事?”
“他(貝佐斯)非常和善。他說,‘你能行,你會(huì)想出辦法的,’”哈特說。
如今內(nèi)嵌Alexa的設(shè)備銷量已超過6億臺(tái),顯然哈特想的辦法確實(shí)不錯(cuò),但貝佐斯給予下屬的信任也功不可沒。哈特說,正是這種成功經(jīng)驗(yàn)推動(dòng)亞馬遜從書店蛻變?yōu)殡娚叹揞^。
“決策權(quán)要盡可能下放給貼近客戶的人,這是我向貝佐斯學(xué)到的重要一課,”他說,“需要首席執(zhí)行官親自決策的事越少,企業(yè)運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)越高效?!?/p>
在教育科技日新月異的當(dāng)下,尤其是人工智能與技能培養(yǎng)結(jié)合,快速行動(dòng)可能對Coursera更有利。
Coursera的最大競爭對手之一2U(旗下也擁有edX)去年申請破產(chǎn),變成了私營公司。Coursera在公開市場表現(xiàn)也并不出色。當(dāng)前其股價(jià)約為8.50美元,遠(yuǎn)低于2022年上市時(shí)的約45美元。
不過據(jù)彭博社(Bloomberg)預(yù)測,未來五年預(yù)計(jì)將有10億人接入互聯(lián)網(wǎng),能通過Coursera獲取數(shù)千門在線課程,其中包括與谷歌、微軟和IBM等企業(yè),以及與斯坦福大學(xué)、密歇根大學(xué)和賓夕法尼亞大學(xué)等高校的合作項(xiàng)目。
“Coursera將迎來巨大機(jī)遇,不僅能為現(xiàn)有網(wǎng)民提供改變命運(yùn)的世界級教育,還能為即將進(jìn)入互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的人群提供機(jī)會(huì),”哈特說。
哈特給Z世代的建議:以學(xué)習(xí)為目標(biāo),多問為什么
對于希望在企業(yè)里穩(wěn)步上升,渴望復(fù)制從諾德斯特龍到亞馬遜成功故事的年輕人,哈特的建議很簡單:專心學(xué)習(xí),不要只盯著光鮮的頭銜或高薪。
“不要只追求頭銜或薪資,要追求成長。只要能長期堅(jiān)持,終將有收獲,”他告訴《財(cái)富》。
雖然這番話出自教育公司首席執(zhí)行官之口略顯老套,但把職業(yè)生涯當(dāng)作馬拉松而非短跑,花時(shí)間發(fā)掘更廣泛的興趣,也是其他商界領(lǐng)袖認(rèn)同的理念,包括哈特的前同事安迪?賈西。
“我兒子21歲,女兒24歲,我發(fā)現(xiàn)他們和同齡人總認(rèn)為這個(gè)年齡就必須確定人生方向,”現(xiàn)任亞馬遜首席執(zhí)行官賈西在《大衛(wèi)?諾瓦克的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力指南》(How Leaders Lead with David Novak)播客中說,“我覺得真不是這樣?!?/p>
“我嘗試過很多事,我認(rèn)為剛工作的時(shí)候弄清楚自己不想做什么和想做什么同樣重要,因?yàn)槿绱瞬拍芟肭宄嬲胱龅氖?,”賈西補(bǔ)充說。
賈西承認(rèn)職業(yè)成功需要一定的運(yùn)氣也難免挫折,但堅(jiān)持不懈最終才可能迎來機(jī)會(huì)。
“我覺得自己的職業(yè)生涯或者說冒險(xiǎn)非常幸運(yùn),或許最正確的就是不過度糾結(jié),”賈西向諾瓦克補(bǔ)充道。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:梁宇
審校:夏林
? Amazon’s billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos, instilled one lesson in his former worker. It was 1997 when Coursera’s newest CEO, Greg Hart was a young new hire at Amazon. He climbed the ranks swiftly, becoming Bezos’ right-hand man just 12 years later. Today, Hart still points to one lesson that’s shaped his leadership philosophy: “The fewer decisions that have to go to the CEO, the faster the organization will move,” Hart tells Fortune.
During Greg Hart’s monotonous college job of folding t-shirts and jeans at Nordstrom, he never imagined that one day he’d be right-hand man to one of the most notable CEOs in the world—or even be an executive himself.
But after landing a job at Amazon in the late 1990s—when it was a bookstore-focused startup—Hart started his steep climb up the corporate ladder. In 2009, he had worked his way up to Jeff Bezos’ technical advisor, a chief-of-staff-equivalent role internally known as “the shadow.”
Now, as a new CEO of Coursera, Hart is taking the lessons he learned sitting next to the now third-richest man in the world (with a net worth of $241 billion) to transform the world of educational technology. That includes, he says, being someone who is always willing to be curious and to listen to your gut—even if the data might not back you up.
“One of the things that Jeff would regularly say is when the data and the anecdotes don’t align, trust the anecdotes,” Hart tells Fortune. “Because it probably means that you’re either measuring the wrong thing in the data, or that the data is telling you something that you’re just not seeing yet.”
This mantra would prove especially relevant in Hart’s life after he was tapped to lead Amazon’s creation of Alexa—a level of success he hopes to emulate at Coursera.
“(Coursera) is one of the leaders in the edtech space, certainly,” Hart says. “But hasn’t yet achieved what I would call the true breakout success that I was fortunate to have seen when I was at Amazon.”
Reshaping edtech with lessons learned from Amazon and Alexa
While serving as technical advisor, Hart was asked to turn Bezos’ two-sentence idea for the implementation of virtual assistant technology into a product found in consumers’ homes, later known as Alexa.
With little background in hardware or software, Hart recalls being hesitant: “Why am I the right person to tackle this challenge?”
“He (Bezos) was unbelievably gracious. He said, ‘you’ll do fine, you’ll figure it out,’” Hart says.
Now with more than 600 million Alexa devices sold, it’s clear Hart did figure it out—in part thanks to the belief Bezos instilled in his subordinates. That lesson is one Hart says was critical in making Amazon grow from a bookstore to an e-commerce conglomerate.
“Pushing decisions down as close to the customer as possible was certainly something that I learned from Jeff,” he says. “The fewer decisions that have to go to the CEO, the faster the organization will move.”
Moving quickly will likely play in Coursera’s favor considering the rapidly changing world of education, including AI’s intersection with skill development.
One of Coursera’s biggest competitors, 2U (which also owns edX), filed for bankruptcy last year and became a private company. Coursera’s public performance hasn’t been spectacular, either. Its share price currently sits at about $8.50, a far cry from its 2022 IPO at about $45.
But in the next five years, a predicted 1 billion people will gain internet access, according to Bloomberg, and thus would have access to Coursera’s thousands of online learning opportunities, that include partnerships with both industry and universities including Google, Microsoft, and IBM as well as Stanford University, University of Michigan, and University of Pennsylvania.
“There is a huge opportunity for Coursera, not just to serve all the people who are online today and give them access to world class education so they can transform their lives, but also to do that for the population that will come online,” Hart says.
Hart’s advice for Gen Z: Optimize for learning—and ask why
For young people looking to push their careers up the corporate ladder and emulate a jump from Nordstrom to Amazon,Hart’s advice is simple: Focus on learning—not on a flashy job title or cushy salary.
“Don’t optimize for titles, don’t optimize for salary, optimize for learning. And if you do that in the long run, it will benefit you,” he tells Fortune.
And while that advice may sound on-brand coming from the CEO of an education company, treating your career like a marathon, not a sprint, and spending time discovering your broader interests is a mantra echoed by other business leaders, including Hart’s former coworker, Andy Jassy.
“I have a 21-year-old son and a 24-year-old daughter, and one of the things I see with them and their peers is they all feel like they have to know what they want to do for their life at that age,” Jassy, the current Amazon CEO, said on the podcast, How Leaders Lead with David Novak. “And I really don’t believe that’s true.”
“I tried a lot of things, and I think that early on it’s just as important to learn what you don’t want to do as what you want to do, because it actually helps you figure out what you want to do,” Jassy added.
And while Jassy admits career success involves an element of luck and may include multiple setbacks, remaining persistent is what ultimately might land you a shot at the corner office.
“I feel like my journey or adventure was a lot of luck, and I think maybe one of the things I did best was not overthink it,” Jassy added to Novak.