This as-told-to essay is based on an interview with Seun Phillips, the 42-year-old founder of Stemnetics, who is based in Los Angeles. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I was always interested in technology. My family got our first computer when I was in the third grade, and my four brothers and I would always game together. I was good at math and science, and my father said I should think about becoming an engineer.
In 2006, I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in electrical engineering. We had a career fair on campus. I remember my next class was about to start, but I saw Motorola. I decided to drop just one more résumé. They called me, and I got through the interview process. I became an electrical engineer focused on accessory compatibility for Motorola in Illinois.
I went on to become an entrepreneur, with a stint at Amazon in between, where I learned lessons I still use in my business today.
I launched a nonprofit organization with one of my Motorola colleagues
I launched Project Syncere in Chicago in March 2009. Its mission is to create pathways for underrepresented students to pursue careers in STEM. This was my first experience running a business, apart from selling CDs in high school. I’m still on the board.
I met my wife and moved to Detroit to be with her. We weren’t looking to expand Project Syncere to another state, so in January 2014, I launched Stemnetics in Michigan, which runs hands-on STEM programs for kids.
Once I became a dad, I stepped away from full-time entrepreneurship
I got a job as the vice president of education and engagement at the Michigan Science Center. I took the job because I had my first child and needed more financial stability.
I hired a full-time teacher and a part-time teacher through Indeed and Craigslist, so they kept the program running while I used my science center earnings to bootstrap the company. I wanted to keep Stemnetics running because I saw the potential.
In 2022, my wife’s job took us to California
I started searching for new roles, and a former colleague told me he was hiring at Amazon Robotics. The role involved identifying companies and startups developing technologies that could improve fulfillment, logistics, and supply chain operations. I understood the startup ecosystem, and I like bringing people together. I was interested.
I had six back-to-back interviews over Zoom, each centered on a different Amazon leadership principle. The ones that stayed with me were customer obsession, frugality, ownership, and bias for action. I still use them at Stemnetics: stay focused on who you serve, move quickly, and find a resourceful way forward without compromising quality.
I remember starting the interview process at 6 a.m. because I’m on Pacific Time. The last interview was with the person who ended up being my manager. I was hired with a six-figure salary.
In June 2022, I became a senior partnerships manager for Amazon’s $1 billion Industrial Innovation Fund
My role focused on building partnerships with companies and startups.
I worked remotely, but I visited the office and a fulfillment center many times. The Amazon environment was very different from other Big Tech offices I heard about: There were standard cubicles and labs where you could see the technology being tested.
I wanted to see the robots in action at a fulfillment center so I could understand how everything moved. I’m very big on the why. I’m seeking partnerships, but why is it important? It was nice to see.
Amazon taught me to work backward from the customer
One thing I found really useful at Amazon was working backward. You start by writing a future press release describing the customer benefit you hope to create. It gives you a North Star for what you’re building.
Another cool concept at Amazon was a Wellness Day. You’re not supposed to use that as a vacation day — you’re supposed to use it for professional development, catching up, anything that would support your mental health. My manager’s manager made sure no meetings were scheduled, so it was truly all about wellness.
I stayed for 1 year
After about a year at Amazon, I was watching football at a sports bar when I started talking to a school principal. He told me he was trying to build a STEM lab. I told him I ran STEM programs, and we decided to meet.
I demonstrated the program at his school. Then the district heard about it. That was the moment I realized Stemnetics was ready for my full attention.
Leaving a six-figure job, you’re always going to feel some panic
I was very close with my manager at Amazon, and there were opportunities there, but I think it was more about me betting on myself.
I used some of the Michigan curriculum to expand in California, and I’d pack the containers with teaching materials I’d bought on Amazon until the wee hours of the morning. My wife would come down, and our whole living room would be full of teaching materials, and then I’d drop the boxes off at different schools. I’d also teach the students and train the other instructors.
Today, we have an office with storage facilities for teaching materials and program managers who help with the training process. I’ve surpassed my Amazon earnings, we have over 35 employees, and we have over 30 programs running in Michigan and California. The impact we’re making is very gratifying.
My favorite part of my job is visiting the classroom and seeing students screaming with excitement. We’re really focused on sparking kids’ interest and finding ways to help them become great problem solvers, think critically, be resilient, and be confident.
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