JASON PHILIP YOONG, CLASS OF ‘05
University attended: University of Southern California (USC), Bachelor of Arts (Pre-Law & Communication and Media Studies)
Current profession: Chief Operating Officer / Operating Partner at Level Up
Connect with me on LinkedIn and check out our Level Up newsletter.
Meet Jason Yoong, a member of the Class of 2005 who is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Operating Partner at Level Up. Jason graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Pre-Law & Communication and Media Studies) from the University of Southern California and is currently working alongside retired Amazon Vice President Ethan Evans at Level Up that provides a platform for individuals and organisations to develop leadership through courses, coaching, and an extensive community.
Tell us more about your role in Level Up.
Level Up is your source for executive insights, high performance habits, and specific career growth actions. Members engage with our newsletter, events, courses, 1:1 executive coaching, and leadership community.
As operating partner, I co-own all aspects of the business with Ethan Evans (retired Amazon Vice President and one of the most decorated executives in Amazon’s history): Content, growth, community, revenue, P&L, marketing, partnerships, business development, operations, product, GenAI, strategy, events, design, etc.
One of my favorite activities is live fireside chats with experts. I’ve talked with Olympic gold medalists, executives in FAANG, founders of rocketship startups, and more.
How was your experience working at Amazon and what are some of your most memorable moments?
Bar-raising. You are surrounded by top performers who are always inventing and putting the customer first.
In my opinion, three traits make Amazon peculiar:
- Building and scaling of culture through Leadership Principles (LPs).
- Intense focus on operational excellence.
- Enhancing clarity of thought and communication through narrative document writing.
Regarding memorable moments, I always enjoyed diving deep into solving problems with selling partners (the people who sell on Amazon)—you learn the good, the bad, and the creative.
I also enjoyed moderating Amazon Fishbowls (fireside chats) with thoughtful and thought-provoking people like Alexis Ohanian, Ryan Holiday, IN-Q, Leon Logothetis, Elad Gil, and more (some photos below).
What role did extracurricular activities or special programmes play in your overall experience at GIS?
Broadened my perspective and helped me discover what I liked and was good at. The breadth of programs is a part of what makes GIS impactful.
I distinctly recall the inter-house competitions (I captained House Crest), FOBISIA, Model United Nations, the school trip to Paris & London, and two camps. There was never a dull moment.
Share your time at GIS, any fond memories? Feel free to mention friends and teachers names!
I remember playing basketball for the U-13, U-15, and U-17 teams simultaneously and realizing two seemingly conflicting thoughts—there was a significant physical gap between U-13 and U-17, but the actual gap of what it took to win was small. It made me even more competitive.
How did GIS shape you to become who you are today?
GIS pushed me to be bold and step outside my comfort zone, strive for higher (nurturing my competitive spirit), and taught me to appreciate different backgrounds and perspectives.
The top regret of the dying is “not having the courage to live the life you want”—GIS shaped me to be fearlessly optimistic.
What would be your best advice to current students who will be graduating soon?
Exhibit key traits of extreme ownership, bias for action, and deliver results.
If you want a simple framework for rapid career growth, use Ethan’s The Magic Loop, the core is 5-steps:
- Do your job well.
- Ask your manager how you can help them.
- Do what they ask.
- Ask your manager if you could help in a way that also grows your skills toward a particular goal.
- Do as they suggest, and repeat in a loop from step 4.
The reason why step 2 is effective is because 90%+ of managers never get asked by their employees how they can help. By doing this, you will stand out and earn trust.
My most gifted book is The Almanack of Naval Ravikant (it’s free) because it’s a sparring partner on how to think about wealth and happiness.
A huge ‘Thank You’ to Jason, who generously shared their time and experiences with our students, despite their busy daily schedules.
If you are interested in sharing your journey post-GIS, then please get in touch with us at alumni@gardenschool.edu.my – We are always updating our page with news from the Alumni community across the continents and would love to hear from you and share your stories. Please get in touch via Facebook, or LinkedIn. We can’t wait to hear from you!