Brittney Hurst — Mentor profile, Title: Global AWS Lead for Amazon Devices & Services, Company: Amazon Web Services, Industry: Information Technology | Program Management | Business Development | Sales, Mentor Type: Albers

Background

Job Description

I lead business development and global AWS account strategy for Amazon Devices & Services, working with Amazon's first-party device portfolio (FireTV, Kindle, Echo, Ring/Blink) and services (Alexa+). I bridge technical solutions and business outcomes by aligning engineering, product, and executive teams to drive innovation, scale cloud adoption, and create customer value.

Company Description

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform, offering over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. Since 2006, AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, with services spanning compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, mobile, security, hybrid, virtual and augmented reality, media, and application development. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs.

Employment History

I have built my 20-year career in technical business development, account management, and sales, serving as the bridge between business leaders and technical teams. My journey includes roles at American Express, MasterCard, and ADP before joining Amazon in 2017, where I've explored various businesses and functions, including product management. I ultimately returned to my roots in business development—building relationships, solving problems, and helping teams leverage technology to meet their goals.

Education

MBA, International Business, Seattle University, Albers School of Business and Economics
BS, International Studies and German, University of Chicago

No civic involvement entered

Mentoring Objectives & Scope

I know careers don't always follow a straight line -- mine certainly hasn't! I've tried different roles, taken risks, and learned what fits me best along the way. As a mentor, I want to give students an honest look at what working in tech and business development is really like, and help them feel confident asking questions, trying new things, and figuring out their own paths. My approach is casual and supportive -- more about real conversations and shared experiences than lectures. I want our time to feel like an open exchange of ideas.

I want you to walk away feeling clearer about your next step and more confident in how you communicate your value. My goal is to help you think strategically about your career — not just chasing titles, but learning how to create opportunities, build meaningful relationships, and position yourself where decisions are made. Expect our conversations to be practical, tailored to where you are, and focused on action. You belong in whatever space you're reaching for — let's build a plan to get you there.

As a mentor, I can support students in the following: 

- Resume review, interview prep, LinkedIn branding
- Career exploration, matching interests and talents with professions and industries
- Building technical or subject matter expertise (hard skills)
- Improved communication and interpersonal skills
- Development of leadership skills, confidence, and executive presence
- Expanding a network, building connection, navigating an organization
- Career Pivot - transition to new role, career, and industry

When and where do you hold meetings with your students?

Hybrid, Seattle University Campus or Amazon Seattle Campus

Additional Information

I work in Business Development at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where I focus on strategic partnerships with one of the world's largest and most innovative companies. My role sits at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and relationship-building. I help enterprise customers understand how cloud computing can transform their businesses, and I work cross-functionally with engineering, product, and leadership teams to bring those partnerships to life.

Before finding my path in tech, I navigated plenty of career uncertainty myself — so I know firsthand that the road isn't always linear, and that's okay. What I bring to mentorship is a practical, no-fluff perspective on breaking into tech, building professional relationships, communicating your value, and figuring out what you actually want (not just what looks good on paper).

I'm a visual and hands-on learner, so expect our conversations to be interactive — I like working through real scenarios together rather than just giving advice. Whether you're exploring career options, prepping for interviews, or trying to grow in your current role, I'm here to help you think it through and take action.