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I was introduced to Mr. Lee Barnett through my uncle, as they used to work together in American Express. Mr. Barnett held a very senior position in Amex and I am excited to get to know him more in the coming days and weeks!

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Mr. Barnett is currently a Senior Manager in Business Execution at Wells Fargo.

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I am a proven executive with a strong track record , looking to continue to lead… · Experience: Wells Fargo · Location: Scottsdale · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Lee Barnett’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.

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Born in England and later moving to America, Mr. Barnett is now 65 years old. He met his wife on the south coast of England, though his journey to the life he has today was shaped by a complex family history. Raised by young parents—his mother was 18 and his father 21—he grew up with limited means, food stamps, and no Christmas presents, while moving frequently. His parents’ troubled marriage and eventual split when he was 21 left a lasting impression, teaching him how deeply people can hurt one another and inspiring his vow never to repeat those mistakes.

Mr. Barnett has had three major relationships and is now happily with Karen. His first flight was at age 9, and though international travel wasn’t common in his youth, those early experiences sparked a sense of curiosity. His brother, in contrast, pursued a very different creative path—working in opera house stage design, excelling in art and music, and even winning an international art competition at 13. Married to a ballerina, his brother’s life reflects a rich artistic flair, while Barnett himself charted a more grounded path, securing his first apartment at 22 and steadily building a life of his own.

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"DevOps is the next step in our transformation journey at American Express. We are one of the horses, a world class financial services company founded in 1850. Since 2011 we have been laying the foundations for DevOps by focusing on: developing our people, bringing in engineering skills, driving agile and toolchain automation adoption and co-locating our teams. We are now increasing our focus on shifting our service operations structure to improve availability and reduce service disruptions. This is our story so far."

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Mr. Barnett and I talked about his love for sports, especially cricket. Growing up in England, cricket is one of the most popular sports to watch and play. He also enjoyed tennis, and his son loves to play soccer and golf!

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Looking back, Mr. Barnett often reflects that he wishes he had learned music, whether guitar or piano, because creative expression brings balance to life. But his most powerful lessons have come from parenthood and hardship. When his daughter Katie was born with severe medical challenges, his perspective shifted: work and career no longer defined success, love and presence did. He learned that the measure of a life isn’t in titles or income, but in the impact you have on others. That’s why he encourages people to give their time to causes they believe in, not just their money—because charities and communities need hands and hearts as much as funds. His advice is simple: embrace compassion, stay present for the people who matter, nurture your talents, and always do what you can to make a difference.

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Mr. Barnett began working the day after his 17th birthday and joined American Express at 19. Though he didn’t have a degree, he entered through Amex’s Technology Intern program, which valued personality and experience alongside education. He started in customer support and programming—though he quickly realized he didn’t enjoy coding—and steadily moved up five or six levels to become one of the youngest directors in the country by age 25. Over his 47-year career with Amex, he thrived on tackling new, cutting-edge challenges and wasn’t afraid to take risks at the “scary edge” of innovation.

His career also took him to America, where he led student recruitment at universities like Cornell and the University of Arizona. While many candidates looked similar on paper with strong GPAs, he sought out those with something extra—volunteering, nonprofit work, or real-life experience that showed resilience and a broader perspective. Though he held senior positions, he often emphasized that true value comes not just from degrees, but from lived experience. Now, for the first time, he finds himself outside the workforce, noticing the stigma of not having a degree despite decades of proven leadership. Still, he carries pride in a career defined by hard work, risk-taking, and a deep belief in the power of experience over credentials.