Virtual Career Talks For Your Classroom

Meet some of the Amazon professionals who volunteer with Class Chats:
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    Zené, Software Development Engineer
    Fun Fact About Me: “I’m always looking for new activities to try. My most recent endeavors have been roller skating and gardening.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “After my first tech internship. Seeing all the ways I could use tech to make a positive impact, even just a small one, in people’s lives confirmed that this was the right field for me.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “There’s nothing better than the feeling you get after solving a really tough problem.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “I think that introducing children to the world of tech at a young age is super important and so seeing their engagement and helping to develop it makes me so happy.”
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    Natalie, Enterprise Solutions Architect
    Fun Fact About Me: “I’m a certified open water scuba diver”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “My first experience with coding was writing BASIC to control LEGO lights and motion in middle school. I was hooked.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Always learning new things and collaborating with really smart people.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “I love encouraging kids to choose STEM careers, and they ask really good questions!”
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    Matt, Area Sales Leader for Central US
    Fun Fact About Me: “They call me the “Cat Whisperer.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “As a young adult, I knew that I wanted to be a part of something that was ever evolving.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “I am a problem solver, I love having the opportunity to solve business problems leveraging technology.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Inspiring students to explore new opportunities and watching them light up as they engage with questions.”
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    Michael, Software Development Engineer
    Fun Fact About Me: “I can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 30 seconds.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “When I could source, build, and configure my own computer, and saw that it worked!”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “The people you work with are the brightest people in the world.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Answering all of the awesome, tough, and insightful questions from students!”
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    Elisa, Program Manager II
    Fun Fact About Me: “I have a minor in Special Education and a Degree in Kinesiology.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “15 years prior to getting hired at Amazon - I just kept applying!”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “I love my job. I get to line up talks on topics that are interesting and impactful to all our employees.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “You never know when the seed you plant will become the next James Gosling or a future co-worker. It is fun to see the influence we have.”
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    Khayla, Systems Development Engineer
    Fun Fact About Me: “I collect roller coaster credits and have ridden 137 different roller coasters.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “Once I took my first web development course, that is when I knew that I had a talent and passion for computers.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “I love the opportunity to build and design the future especially when I can take what I learn and design solutions to aid underserved communities.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “I love the engaging and out-of-the-box questions that I often get asked. The students are always the coolest.”
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    Brian, Sr. Partner Enablement Manager
    Fun Fact About Me: “I referee High School Football.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “When I was working as a cable technician and installing the first cable modems.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “The flexibility of my role.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Empowering the next generation of tech leaders and sharing my passion for Allyship and gender equality with the classes I get to speak with.”
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    Luna, WHS Site Manager, Sortation Center
    Fun Fact About Me: “I’ve climbed three mountains taller than 14,000 feet!”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “I always found myself interested in learning how things worked. Tinkering and curious about systems for animals, environment, and technology.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Continuing to tinker and be curious about making systems better and working with people to learn from their experience to build with them instead of for them.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Getting to meet students from all over the country and learn from them!”
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    Karl, Technical Program Manager
    Fun Fact About Me: “I have lived in 3 countries and played a sport in 4 countries.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “11th grade after a friend showed me hacking.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Seeing ideas comes to life from scratch.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Showing students that all career paths are different.”
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    Elaine, Connect Specialist Solutions Architect
    Fun Fact About Me: “I’m a PSIA certified children’s specialist ski instructor.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “When I bought my first consumer grade GPS unit. For someone directionally challenged, a mobile GPS unit is a miracle! My first “wow” moment with tech like a lightbulb lighting up for the first time.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Sharing that same “WOW’ moment with coworkers and customers alike.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Learning what’s special or unique about the location of each school area through the eyes of the kids we speak with.”
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    Kate, Associate Solutions Architect
    Fun Fact About Me: “I’ve eaten bugs. Not on a dare. Trying new things is a hobby.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “As an artsy-person looking for jobs to support my family, I discovered not only do careers in tech provide, but also allows me to be creative.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Technology is changing rapidly, and with that I’m never bored and able to continuously learn new things.”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “The questions part! I love hearing about students’ current interests and goals, and encouraging them to pursue them.”
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    Bill, Principal UX Designer Pharmacy
    Fun Fact About Me: “I once won a Halloween costume contest by wearing a sticker that said, “Hello. My name is Macklemore.”
    When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “Shortly after graduating from art school, I was working at a design agency and I volunteered to build a website for a client. I had no idea what I was doing but once I realized I could use my design skill and work within technology, I was hooked.”
    My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Being able to solve incredibly complex problems on a daily basis..”
    My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Class Chats allows be to be able to help influence young minds, which to me that is one of the most important things I can do in my career.”
What do teachers need to know before booking?
Class Chats typically last 30-40 minutes.
During booking, you’ll select a date and time. We will match you with an available speaker.
All Class Chats are virtual at this time. You’ll need internet, a projector or smartboard, speaker, microphone and webcam.
You can provide your video conference link, or request an Amazon Chime video conference link from your volunteer guest speaker.
There is a free teacher toolkit with lesson plans, slide decks, student handouts to make the most out of this experience.
Teachers love Class Chats! They rate us 4.8 / 5 stars on average.
Why Class Chats for Students?

Exposing students to in-demand careers and diverse career role models can bring them new possibilities, inspiration, and motivation. Amazon employees work across a broad range of technical and nontechnical roles - Class Chats can help students envision future careers that they may not have even heard of!

Show your students all the career possibilities their future can offer by bringing an Amazon professional to your classroom. Our Class Chat volunteers will share their personal career stories and insight about working at a large tech company, as well as answer your students’ career questions.

Class Chats are free, live, interactive, and available to classrooms across the US.

Scroll up and click “Book a Class Chat” to get started

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Video Companion
Before your Class Chat
Set your students up for an awesome Class Chat experience with our Class Chat Teacher Toolkit. Inside you will find worksheets, slide decks, and pre/post activities to deepen student learning before and after the chat.
Want to meet more Amazonians? Explore our video library to watch on-demand videos and meet even more Amazon Professionals.
Bring your class on a virtual tour and meet three engineers behind the technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I register for a Class Chat?

Scroll up and use the “Book a Class Chat” button at the top of this page!

Who are the Class Chats guest speakers?

Class Chats guest speakers are Amazon employees who are passionate about inspiring young people to explore careers of the future.

We know you want a great experience for your students. We work hard to make sure Class Chats guest speakers are well prepared to deliver a high quality, valuable career talk. All Class Chats speakers go through a training and coaching program before they are able to participte in Class Chats.

You’ll be matched with an Amazon Class Chats guest speaker based on the grade level of your students, and availability of speakers for the date and time you select.

What will the Class Chats guest speaker talk about?

All Class Chats follow this format:
  • Brief introduction of Amazon
  • Personal career journey from K12 experience through current day
  • Brief overview of current job at Amazon
  • Discuss biggest career journey challenges and learnings
  • Share top tips and advice for students
  • Answer student questions

Can anyone sign up for a Class Chat?

At this time, the live, virtual Class Chats are only available to schools, programs, or nonprofits serving students in K-12 in the United States.

Will my employee volunteer be a computer science professional or could they have a non-tech role at Amazon?

In an effort to show students the wide variety of roles in tech, we have recruited a diverse range of employees to participate in Class Chats. Some volunteers may be a software development engineer while others may be more focused on marketing or program support. Computer science impacts all jobs here at Amazon, so we hope your volunteer can illuminate the vast array of opportunities that exist in the tech sector.

What grade-levels can participate?

Class Chats are for all grades K-12! Class Chats guest speakers have tailored talks for elementary school students and middle + high school students.

How much does this cost?

All Class Chats are provided at no cost.

I teach multiple sections. Can I request multiple Individual Class Chats?

Yes! You can request a Class Chat for as many sections as you need. You will likely be paired with different volunteers for each period.

What conference platform do I need to use?

You can choose the video conference system you prefer! During the booking process, you will need to enter a video conference link for your Class Chats guest speaker to join. If you don’t have a conference system, your volunteer can set a meeting up for your class on Amazon Chime.

My friend works at Amazon. Can I request them as our Class Chat volunteer?

If your friend is already a Class Chats volunteer, you can ask them for their direct booking link. If they are not yet a part of our program, please tell them to check it out!

I can't find a date or time that works for my calendar. What should I do?

Please reach out to classchats@amazon.com and let us know!

Who can I contact for help?

Reach out to classchats@amazon.com for any additional support.
More ways to explore with Amazon Future Engineer
We provide thousands of classrooms with quality computer-science teacher training and curriculum to make sure educators have the tools they need to feel confident in the classroom.
Career Tours are virtual field trips that inspire students to pursue careers of the future by exploring Amazon’s technologies. Tour whenever, wherever on Kahoot!
Amazon Future Engineer students can boost their future for themselves and their community with the support of college funding, paid internships, and industry mentors.
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