I took a 6-figure job at Amazon after stepping away from full-time entrepreneurship. A chance meeting led me back to my business.

Seun Phillips, the founder of Stemnetics, took a six-figure job at Amazon after leaving his full-time entrepreneurial career. He credits Amazon's customer obsession and frugality for guiding his work now. Phillips' journey began with a passion for technology and engineering, leading him to launch a nonprofit organization in Chicago to promote STEM education for underrepresented students.

In 2014, he founded Stemnetics, which provides hands-on STEM programs for kids. After becoming a father, Phillips stepped away from full-time entrepreneurship to work as the vice president of education and engagement at the Michigan Science Center. In 2022, he secured a senior partnerships manager role at Amazon's $1 billion Industrial Innovation Fund, where he focuses on building partnerships with companies and startups.

Phillips found Amazon's environment different from other Big Tech offices, with standard cubicles and labs, but he appreciated the company's focus on customer-centric innovations and wellness initiatives. After a year at Amazon, Phillips felt the time was right to return to his business full-time. He leveraged his Amazon experience to expand Stemnetics, growing it to over 35 employees and 30 programs in Michigan and California.

His favorite aspect of his current role is seeing the excitement in students' eyes during classroom visits.