Talent Champion – Walter Frye

Talent Champion Spotlight

2024 Talent Champion - Frye

Walter Frye
Global Director of Brand & Retail Marketing
Amazon
Walter Frye is Global Director of Brand and Retail Marketing at Amazon. In this role, he leads the mass marketing strategy to drive retail demand and brand love for Amazon and its products and services around the world. Walter also leads Amazon’s multicultural strategy focused on driving affinity with Black and Hispanic audiences in the U.S. Since joining Amazon, Walter has produced multiple award-winning global campaigns, including Amazon’s highly-rated “Joy is Shared” holiday ad and “Saving Sawyer,” which were rated as #1 Most Effective Ad Ever by System1 and the #1 best Super Bowl ad of 2023 by AdAge, respectively.

Prior to joining Amazon, Walter held various marketing leadership roles at American Express, where he worked for 15 years across experiential, social, design, partnerships and strategy. During his tenure, Walter developed their year-round Shop Small initiative in 20 countries worldwide as well as American Express’ global entertainment and experiential strategy. He negotiated global deals with Live Nation, U.S. Open, Coachella, and Wimbledon, as well as brand’s partnerships with wide range of music artists including Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift.

Walter serves on the Board of Directors for The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. His awards include a prime-time Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Video (with Taylor Swift), Billboard 100 Most Powerful Players in Music, AdAge 40 Under 40 and the Out100. Walter holds an MBA from Harvard Business School received a bachelor’s in Economics from Yale University.

What prompted you to get involved with the AEF?

I was invited to participate in a wonderful session at Yale. Because of my awareness of all the great work the ANA does as well as my affinity for my alma mater, I was thrilled to participate. That’s where I learned more about the work of AEF.

Why are you passionate about the future of the industry?

There’s never been a more exciting time to be a marketer. The pace of change has never been greater, which makes our work harder but also more dynamic. The job to be done hasn’t change — reach customers with the right message in the right place at the right time, but that simple challenge has become complex as media fragmentation grows and attention wanes.

What is the best career advice you've ever received?

Do work that excites you. It’s not true that it won’t feel like work, but it will be rewarding and it makes it much easier to put in the long hours required.

Why do you feel it is so important to inspire the next generation of diverse talent?

Our industry, particularly at senior levels, doesn’t reflect the diversity of our customers, which is only growing more and more multicultural with younger generations. It is critical that we do the work to attract more diverse marketers and create inclusive workspaces that enable them to thrive.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The balance of creativity and business impact. Our work isn’t creative if it doesn’t drive results.

What is the most important skill students should have before they begin their career?

Empathy.

What advice would you give to students as they consider entering the industry?

Be students of culture.

2024 Talent Champions

"Our future marketing and advertising leaders are not just looking for a job, they are looking for a meaningful career that will make a positive impact on society."
— Gord McLean, President and CEO at ANA Educational Foundation