Allissa Abdelwahed-Kwaning

About Allissa Abdelwahed-Kwaning

By age 20, I had lived in 5 countries and I had discovered that it was an amazing way to learn how to adapt quickly. Someone once reminded me, during a transition, that feeling uncomfortable was an indicator that I was growing, they were right! I have loved this past year with Amazon because it is a culture that I recognize: one of constant change and with opportunities to lead in an ambiguous environment. As customer needs develop, Amazon adapts and it is exciting to be part of the team that makes it happen.In April 2017, I joined Amazon Books as an Assistant Store Manager to launch the store on 34th Street in Manhattan. In May 2018, I took on a new challenge and accepted a role in Human Resources for Global Specialty Fulfillment (GSF) supporting Prime Now, Whole Foods, Treasure Truck, Campus and Fresh Delivery stations. The irony is that I often told customers in the bookstore that Prime Now is the reason I am a Prime member and the reason I survived my first winter in New York City. In August 2019, I accepted a role as HR Business Partner and relocated to the Washington DC Metro Area for AMZL Logistics. In less than 3 years, I am grateful to have experienced 3 businesses within Amazon, now 2 cities, and 3 different roles. Prior to Amazon, I was an Executive Team Leader at Target in Texas. For 3 years, I influenced 40+ team members through talent management and drove positive change to the service culture in a store of 200+ employees. I quickly discovered a passion in leading teams and a deeper curiosity in understanding human behavior. This prompted me to pursue a Master\'s in Social Organizational Psychology at Teacher\'s College, Columbia University. I would argue that Lewin\'s theory is the premise of this program and one that I revisit often:\"human behavior is a function of the person and their environment.\" Taking the leap to relocate to New York City and to join Amazon in 2017, was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Experience

1. Sr Human Resources Program Manager

   Amazon

   Aug 2022 — Present · Reston, VA, US

   Created the Operational Plan, including annual goal setting, cyclical business reviews, and quarterlypromotion reviews, for the HR organization of 170 HR leaders. Partner with central teams and stakeholders to launch programs impacting Fulfilment Centers, SortCenters, Delivery Stations and Cross Dock in AMXL, a total of 170 sites and up to employees. Created a Learning and Development Curriculum on Psychological Safety in partnership with HR leadersto launch to the Ops Delivery & Tech PXT organization, impacting HR employees.

Education

• Universidad de Sevilla

  Non-Degree, Junior Year in Spain (Sweet Briar College)

  2012 — 2012

• Istituto del Sacro Cuore (Firenze), Italy

  Linguistic Studies

  2007 — 2009

• American University

  Non-Degree: Washington Semester Program, Seminar on Justice and Law

  2012 — 2012

• School for International Training

  Non-Degree, Tunisia: Emerging Identities in North Africa

  2013 — 2013

• Sweet Briar College

  Bachelors of Arts, International Affairs and Philosophy majors, Business minor

  2010 — 2014

• Columbia University

  Master of Arts - MA, Social Organizational Psychology

  2017 — 2020

Skills

• Photoshop
• Fundraising
• Indesign
• Marketing
• Spanish
• Facebook
• Illustrator
• Public Speaking
• International Adaptibility
• Training
• Customer Satisfaction
• Customer Service
• Social Networking
• Entrepreneurship
• Management
• Program Development
• Public Relations
• Media Relations
• Microsoft Office
• Data Analysis
• Multi-Cultural Team Building
• Telemarketing
• International Relations
• Database Research
• Microsoft Word
• Project Management
• Research
• Nonprofits
• Social Media
• Event Planning
• Leadership
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel