Amazon India Hosts First Global “Together at Amazon” Summit in Bengaluru, Unveils Major Workforce and Upskilling Expansion

Over the past decade, Amazon has evolved in India from an e-commerce platform into a diversified enterprise with deep operational integration across sectors. The company now employs more than 120,000 people in the country, making India its second-largest talent base outside the United States.

The two-day summit focused on employee development, well-being, and workplace connectivity, aligning with Amazon’s global “Together at Amazon” framework built on three pillars: Grow, Thrive, and Connect. This framework forms part of the broader “Future Ready 2030” initiative, a global investment of 2.5 billion dollars aimed at preparing 50 million people for the future workforce.

Amazon leaders emphasized the strategic importance of India in shaping the company’s global operations. Tonya White Hallett, Vice President of People Experience and Technology, stated that India’s diverse narratives contribute to collective growth and influence Amazon’s global working model. Deepti Varma, Vice President of People Experience and Technology for Amazon Stores India and Emerging Markets, described the company’s journey as a people-driven transformation where collective effort enables large-scale impact.

The summit featured participation from public figures Bhumi Pednekar and Saina Nehwal, who engaged with employees during leadership and motivation sessions.

Candi Castleberry, Vice President of Amazon eXperiences and Upskilling, announced several key workforce initiatives for India. Amazon will expand its Ready to Perform Skilling Centres from three to nine locations, with a training capacity of up to 28,000 individuals, including 25 percent women participation. The company also confirmed that all India employees will gain access to artificial intelligence upskilling tools and Machine Learning University curricula.

In addition, Amazon is enhancing accessibility and inclusion measures. Unique Disability Identification enrolment camps will be organized across Bengaluru, Delhi National Capital Region, Mumbai, and Hyderabad to support employees and their families in accessing government welfare schemes. The company is also distributing assistive devices for employees with disabilities and installing lactation pods across fulfilment centres, beginning in Bengaluru and expanding to other locations.

Under its Amazon Future Engineer programme, the company announced 500 new scholarships, increasing the total to 2,200 active scholars. The first graduating cohort achieved an 89 percent placement rate, highlighting strong employment outcomes.

Castleberry stated that India represents a critical proof point for scalable workforce systems, emphasizing that structured programs can reach hundreds of thousands compared to traditional limited-scale initiatives.

The “Together at Amazon” Summit in India is positioned as the beginning of a sustained, long-term investment strategy focused on skills development, employee well-being, accessibility, and digital readiness. Amazon’s initiatives aim to strengthen workforce capability while reinforcing India’s role in shaping the company’s global future.