| Executive Program
MANAGING LIKE AMAZON
Inside Jeff Bezos Management System
Lectured by Colin Bryar Former SVP & Jeff Bezos "Shadow" and Bill Carr Former SVP & S-Team Member of Jeff Bezos at Amazon.
Venue & Date
Quinta da Caçabrava, Tomar, Portugal.
4, 5 & 6th May, 2026.
Program Fee & Audience
4800€ + VAT. High-level of seniority, mainly CEOs, COOs and similar roles. Limited to 30 executives.
A Message From Colin and Bill
"We will explore key factors that shape organizational performance: planning, decision cycles, culture, building a flywheel, decision-making, measurement, and initiatives that drive growth and efficiency.
Companies that achieve sustained results manage these areas through formal, repeatable processes—together forming a company’s Operating Cadence.
Jeff Bezos captured this in his 2016 shareholder letter: “Good process serves you so you can serve customers… But if you’re not watchful, the process can become the thing.”
We believe certain decisions should not be delegated by executives:
What is our strategic direction, or how do we create value for customers? Ideally articulated through a stable Flywheel, with only minor adjustments over time.
How do we measure success beyond output metrics? What input metrics help us control and improve customer experience and business performance? Where should we invest, how should we allocate resources, and what should we choose not to pursue given our capacity?
Every company should operate with a clear plan built around metrics, initiatives, and resource allocation.
While simple in concept, the challenge grows with organizational complexity. The answer is an effective Operating Cadence that guides how plans are created, tracked, and improved.
I invite you to come with an open mind and leave inspired to strengthen your own operating cadence.
Sincerely,"
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4th May
17:30 - 21:00
Amazon Operating Cadence and Meet & Greet Dinner
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Colin Bryar and Bill Carr will kick things off with a comprehensive preview of the next two days and the first hour lecture on the big picture of Amazon’s Operating Cadence.
5th May
09:00 - 10:00
Amazon Operating Cadence and Decision Cycles
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Why Amazon has adopted this approach to planning and control. And we will review many examples and templates along the way.
10:15 - 13:00
Annual Operating Plan, Planning cycle and S-Team Goals
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We’ll describe how to effectively develop annual operating plans at the company and business unit level. A good operating plan results in companywide alignment on metrics, initiatives, resources and organizational structure/leadership. We will also dive into Amazon S-team goal setting.
14:00 - 16:00
Monthly and Quarterly Business Reviews (MBR/QBR)
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How Amazon approaches MBRs and QBRs and how they use it to measure progress against your Annual Operating Plan and know when to make a course-correction.
16:00 - 18:00
Leadership Principles and Hiring - Get The Right People On The Bus
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Deep dive into Leadership Principles & Bar Raiser Hiring Process — Amazon’s disciplined, data-driven approach to hiring exceptional talent. This method transforms recruiting into a scalable, repeatable, and bias-resistant system, ensuring every hire raises the bar for leadership and performance.
18:00 - 21:00
Network Backyard Grill Experience
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Savor premium-cut meat, with music setting the perfect backdrop for engaging conversations.
6th May
09:00 - 11:00
Flywheel. Beyond The Concept and Real Application of Inputs-Outputs
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Deep dive into Jim Collins Flywheel concept. Then, discover and establish the right collection of output and input metrics, guide activity, and measure flywheel progress. Identifying and focusing on controllable customer-facing input metrics yield small wins.
11:15 - 13:00
Input Metrics and Flywheel Breakout Session
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Reflect on your flywheel and its characteristics. Break into teams to start with one or more of your company’s output metrics and generate a comprehensive list of input metrics to measure the progress of your flywheel. Get back together as a group and discuss it with Colin and Bill.
14:00 - 16:00
The Weekly Business Review (WBR)
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We’ll go in detail on what’s a great WBR and dive into output and input metrics covering all business units, the customer experience, financial results, and critical operational metrics from all functions. This will include detailed explanations of how the report should be built (and how not to do it).
16:15 - 18:00
Initiatives and Innovation - PR/FAQ and Narratives
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Most companies we’ve observed have many more ideas than they can implement. Yet they also lack a formal, efficient process for identifying the best ideas, improving them from their original state, and deciding which ones to greenlight. We’ll deconstruct the “PR/FAQ” method for developing, iterating, debating, and aligning on a prioritized list of new initiatives that will deliver the greatest impact. Also, how this process fits within the Operating Plan and planning cycle.
18:00 - 18:30
Closing Session
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A moment to take a photo with Colin and Bill and receive the signed certificate.
Audience Is Composed by European Executives
"It's my 4th program with Arc, all of them were truly amazing. I think I'm getting addicted to their programs."
"Learning from Colin Bryar was an enriching experience, it was like opening the door to Amazon's executive board room and hearing first-hand how leadership built on clarity, based on data and KPIs and with an obsession with the customer makes a real impact on day-to-day management.”
“Engage at this personal level with everyone is extremely valuable. Learning from someone like Colin was a very unique thing. It's clear to me how Amazon does it and I'm quite confident that I can cascade it into our organization.”
"Colin offered an eye-opening look into the leadership principles and operational strategies behind Amazon’s success. I wholeheartedly recommend this masterclass to anyone ready to up their game and embrace Amazon’s innovative culture. Kudos to Arc for the flawless organization!"
“It was a privilege attending this program, conducted by Arc. Learning from Colin's expertise provided invaluable perspectives on corporate governance and management systems.”
"It's an intense but rewarding two-day experience. This isn't a typical training session — it's a sharing of real-world experiences."
The Venue
Set in the historic heart of Portugal, near the city of Tomar and the UNESCO World Heritage Convent of Christ, the executive program takes place at Quinta da Caçabrava, an exclusive estate deliberately chosen for its rare qualities of silence, privacy, and seclusion. Free from urban noise and external distractions, and reserved exclusively for our group, the estate offers a protected environment where participants can fully disconnect from daily demands and engage in focused reflection, meaningful dialogue, and deep executive learning.
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Network Grill Experience
Savor premium-cut meat, with music setting the perfect backdrop for engaging conversations. The setting is ideal for Colin and Bill to move easily from table to table and engage in conversation with each attendee.
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All-Inclusive Program Experience
Meet & Greet
A roundtable where Prof. Colin and Bill will talk with each participant one-on-one. Dinner is included.
Two Day Program
Colin and Bill will share their experience and frameworks, and answer your questions in an immersive learning experience. 5th & 6th November at Tomar.
Managing Like Amazon Workbook
An exclusive workbook filled with Amazon's frameworks and systems, designed to guide your journey.
Accommodation & Meals & Airport-Hotel Transfer
4th & 5th May accommodation included.
Enjoy all-inclusive meals and transfer throughout the program.
Network Grill Experience
Savor premium-cut meat, with music setting the perfect backdrop for engaging conversations. The setting is ideal for Colin and Bill to move easily from table to table and engage in conversation with each attendee.
Signed Certificate
Take home a personalized, hand-signed certificate from Colin and Bill, verifying your participation.
Venue & Date
Quinta da Caçabrava, Tomar, Portugal.
4, 5 & 6th May, 2026.
Program Fee & Audience
4800€ + VAT. High-level of seniority, mainly CEOs, COOs and similar roles. Limited to 30 executives.
Managing Like Amazon Last Edition Gallery
About Arc Executive Education
Founded in 2018, Arc is an executive education company based in the historic city of Tomar, Portugal. After more than 100 programs delivered, and over 1,000 alumni, Arc now dedicates itself exclusively to bringing together experts from the world’s most respected companies to share their knowledge and lived experience.
Built around real case studies, open discussion, and peer exchange. Arc programs emphasize practical insight and applied thinking. Over the years, has earned the trust of executives across Europe through consistently high-quality programs.
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"Arc did a phenomenal job"
Colin Bryar
*Business Retreats is now Arc Executive Education
What You'll Learn
Build a High-Performance Hiring System
Implement structured, principle-driven hiring practices that raise the talent bar and reinforce company culture.
Master Strategic Planning & Resource Allocation
Design an Operating Plan (OP1) that aligns initiatives, budgets, and teams around measurable business outcomes.
Establish Control Through Rhythmic Reviews
Lead effective Monthly, Quarterly, and Weekly Business Reviews that ensure accountability, alignment, and rapid course correction.
Work On Your Flywheel - Manage Inputs, Not Outputs
Identify and operationalize the controllable metrics that truly drive customer experience and long-term business performance.
Lead with Clarity Through Narratives
Replace slide-based updates with data-driven written narratives that sharpen thinking and enable better, faster decisions.
Innovate Using the Working Backwards Method
Start from the desired customer experience with Press Release / FAQ frameworks to create scalable, customer-obsessed innovation.
30th April 2025
10th November
Imagine walking through the grand halls of the Convento de Cristo, a site where history whispers from every stone, and being greeted by none other than Dave Ulrich. On 10th November, you will join 30 other executives for an unparalleled meeting where Greg will reveal the inner workings of branding with emotion—right in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
16:30 - 21:00
Dave Ulrich will kick things off with a comprehensive preview of the next two days, laying the groundwork for engaging discussions.
Everyone will be guided through thoughtful questions to build connections.
As night falls, we´ll enjoy a lavish dinner - a perfect end to a day of first meet and great.
Transfers will be available between the hotel and the Convento de Cristo.
Program Overview
A Retreat Inside an UNESCO World Heritage Monument. A Letter Written by Greg Hoffman.
I'm honored to welcome you to the "Branding with Emotion" retreat, a dynamic three-day journey where we'll explore how our brands can forge deeper, lasting connections in the hearts and minds of customers.
The program I'll share with you has been shaped by my 27-year journey at NIKE, where I worked across marketing, innovation, advertising, and design. I witnessed firsthand how the Swoosh transcended its role as a logo to become a symbol of human potential, how "Just Do It" evolved beyond a tagline into a global mindset, and how sneakers transformed into vessels of profound personal connection. Drawing from these experiences, I've designed this program to help you develop the leadership mindset and strategies needed to create powerful emotional bonds between your brand and customers.
Begins with an exploration of emotion's role in distinguishing extraordinary brands from ordinary ones. We'll then delve into "Sparking a Movement" - examining how brands can evolve beyond transactions to become meaningful forces in customers' lives. Through engaging case studies and interactive exercises, we'll push ourselves to create a more audacious vision of our brands' future and discover how to define and amplify each brands' unique personality.
Last day opens with "Dare to Be Remembered", focusing on brand storytelling and cultural relevance. Because no brand story worth telling should be forgotten, we'll examine the principles that make stories resonate and endure. In "Never Play it Safe, Play to Win", we'll explore how to foster a culture of calculated risk-raking that generates bold, innovative ideas. Through case studies and hands-on exercises, you'll gain practical tools to energize creativity within your organizations.
We'll conclude by looking toward the future with "Leave a Legacy, Not Just a Memory", examining how brands can contribute meaningfully to global progress while achieving their business objectives.
I look forward to collaborating with you over these next three days, in the UNESCO Heritage Christ Convent, as we unlock new ways to strengthen our brands and drive business growth through the power of emotion.
Sincerely,