4 min read

Interested in working at Amazon? Macarena Garcia, an IE graduate and Blue Torch winner, has some insights to get you off the starting block. Her role moves quickly – balancing pricing, catalog health, operational issues and promotional strategy. “Every day is different,” she says. “One moment you’re checking sales or revenue, and the next you’re solving a fulfillment center issue because a carrier is blocked and the offer isn’t live.”

But it all makes sense: “I wanted something fast-paced,” says Macarena. “I wanted to feel challenged.” The Master in Digital Marketing gave her the technical and analytical grounding that made a move into Amazon possible. What follows is her account of how she works, how she was hired and how the master’s continues to shape her daily responsibilities.

What’s it like working at Amazon?

As a Brand Specialist, Macarena manages the relationship between Amazon and large manufacturers. “We’re the main point of contact,” she explains. “Pricing, promotions, marketing initiatives, logistics… it all goes through us.” The work shifts constantly between high-level financial reviews and detailed issue-solving, requiring strong coordination with other parts of the company.

Internal collaboration is fundamental to the role. “We need help from supply chain managers, advertising executives, vendor managers – everyone,” she says. “You get to know how each team works, and you learn really quickly because everything depends on moving fast.” The structure gives her visibility into Amazon’s wider operations, while keeping her deeply involved in daily strategy.

Competition inside the platform adds another layer. “My competition isn’t just outside Amazon; it’s also internal,” she says. “If you’re a third-party seller listing the same product, I still want my vendor to win.” Strong stock levels, better delivery promises and manufacturer pricing usually give her an advantage, but the environment requires constant monitoring. “You have to keep the vendor happy and keep their offer strong.”

How do you get a job at Amazon?

Amazon’s hiring process is intentionally intense. “You have three interviews back-to-back in one morning – that’s it,” she says. “If you do badly, you don’t have a second chance.” One interview involved Excel and mathematical formulas, which caught her off guard. “I love math, but I hadn’t used Excel in months. I thought I did really badly.”

But the interview went better than anticipated.  “I’m very extroverted, so I talked a lot with the interviewers. Even if I didn’t get something right, I explained what I did and why,” she says. That clarity helped her stand out. “Hard skills you learn anyway. Amazon wants people who can learn fast and work with others.”

Working at Amazon, she sees two broad types of successful hires. “Some people come in with strong technical skills – engineers, people great with Excel,” she says. “And then there are people like me, more soft-skills focused, who make the day-to-day comfortable for the team. Both profiles work, but you have to adapt quickly. It’s fast-paced.”

How did the Master in Digital Marketing help?

Macarena chose the master’s because she wanted a blend of digital marketing, analytics and business strategy. “Digital was always what I liked. E-commerce, data, everything electronic,” she says. “The mix was perfect for me.” Coming from Chile, she also wanted an international environment where she could experience different cultures and ways of thinking.

Several classes still impact Macarena’s daily work.

“I always remember Salesforce class. The push notifications, the email campaigns, the customer journey,” she says. “When I create visibility packages with advertising or run promotions with vendors, I still have a diagram in my head of how everything should flow.” Those frameworks help her identify the right touchpoints and spot weak links.

Project management became another lasting skill. “Manuel was amazing,” she says. “He taught us how to handle big events from start to finish. Preparation, timelines, Gantt charts. It helps me visualize a whole project and see where something went wrong.” The structure she learned in class now guides how she manages Amazon’s complex workflows.

What kind of student thrives in the program?

Macarena believes the program suits students who take initiative. “Use everything IE offers,” she says. “Don’t just follow the syllabus. Explore.” That mindset helped her discover which parts of digital marketing fit her best and build confidence in areas she hadn’t considered before.

The international environment also reshaped her personally. “You’re thrown in with people from everywhere,” she says. “Different cultures, different skills, different personalities. It makes you more open. You learn to accept different perspectives.” The year broadened how she approaches teamwork and communication.

Macarena’s advice is direct but reassuring.

“Take it easy. Don’t freak out about grades,” she says. “You’re in Madrid. Learn, stay active, find what you love. The rest comes by itself.” For her, the master’s worked because she treated it like an opportunity to grow, not just a curriculum to follow.

What’s next for Macarena?

Macarena is happy at Amazon and sees many paths ahead. “There are a lot of opportunities here,” she says. “Different teams, different countries… you can grow in many directions.” The company’s structure and size give her the flexibility to keep exploring roles that blend commercial strategy and digital understanding.

At the same time, she reflects on life abroad. “I’m an immigrant, so I always have my home in the back of my mind,” she says. “It’s a constant balance between wanting to stay and wanting to go back.” She hasn’t made any decisions yet, but she’s open to taking time off in the future to travel or reset.

For now, she’s focused on learning, contributing and building on the momentum she’s created. Working at Amazon gives her the mix she wanted: challenge, scale and the chance to use her digital skills every day. “I wanted to feel uncomfortable in a good way,” she says. “That’s where you grow.”