The First Thing to Let Go of When You Become a New Manager

After 17 years leading teams and building programs at Amazon and Gap, Myra Deshmukh founded Leadership Lab to help professionals master the skills that drive career success but are rarely taught at work. Her communication and career tips have been featured in Business Insider.

At Amazon, she coached hundreds as a manager and Bar Raiser, built programs that taught thousands to write better, influence effectively, and communicate with clarity, and led teams through complex, high-stakes launches. Her management philosophy is built on transparency, high standards, ruthless prioritization, and fun.

Her teaching style is practical, no-fluff, and proven — built from real corporate experience and focused on helping high performers communicate with confidence, earn trust, and accelerate their career

Kara Timken is a senior marketing leader at DoorDash, where she leads Ads Marketing for Grocery operating in complex, cross-functional environments. Before DoorDash, Kara spent over 10 years at Amazon, growing in her career to a Senior Manager overseeing a large integrated marketing team while helping scale Amazon grocery businesses during periods of rapid change.

With a background in education and years of experience mentoring new leaders, Kara brings a practical, human approach to management. She is passionate about helping first-time managers navigate the transition from doing the work to leading people and building leadership styles rooted in clarity, empathy, and trust.