Andy Marks has always been interested in what drives people—what they value and how they make decisions. In 2013, Andy was working in consumer insights for a global entertainment brand, when a medical condition left him legally blind within six months. Suddenly everything in his life demanded a new kind of understanding, including his own definition of success. 

“I started asking bigger questions about what I wanted from my work,” says Andy. “And I realized I needed to be somewhere that not only valued my experience, but reflected my values.” In 2017, Andy joined Audible as a market research manager. Our mission to bring stories to life through listening resonated with him personally. “Growing up, my dad and I would listen to the Harry Potter series on cassette tapes together,” he says. “Those were some of my favorite moments. Audiobooks have always been a part of my life, and that relationship deepened after I lost my vision.”

Today he’s a Director of Consumer Research at Audible, working on a global team that helps to shape our customer experience through listener feedback, analytics and insights. Those insights come from surveys, customer care contacts, focus groups, reviews and more, and Andy’s team distills them into actionable recommendations for Audible’s Product, Marketing and Content teams.

“Our work impacts what people use  every day,” he says. “That kind of feedback loop, where research turns into real change, is what keeps me energized.” His team’s work has informed several key projects, including making it easy for listeners to redeem credits and select titles directly in the Audible app.

But Andy’s contributions go beyond product enhancements. As co-lead of audABLE, Audible’s employee-led impact group focused on disability inclusion, Andy has helped build awareness, influence company policy and strengthen community connections. The group advises on everything from app features to facility upgrades, and helps ensure that all employees, with or without disabilities, have access to the tools they need to succeed. 

In 2024, during Disability Pride Month, Andy sent a company-wide note encouraging colleagues to learn more about the perspectives of people with disabilities. He shared that when he first lost his vision, he didn’t know anyone with a disability. “Since then, I’ve made countless friends living with disabilities,” he wrote. “But far too often, those voices are invisible, unappreciated and excluded.” 

That message led to a joint event between audABLE and Asians@Audible, hosted with Audible’s Chief People Officer, Anne Erni. The discussion, called Allyship in Action, gave employees space to explore how allyship can show up across communities and roles. “Allyship doesn’t have to look the same for everyone,” Andy explains. “At Audible, we’re encouraged to find our own unique and personal ways to practice allyship.”

Accessibility is at the very core of Audible’s founding. In 2023, Audible Founder Don Katz joined an audABLE panel to share how the company’s original mission, making books accessible through audio, continues to shape its innovation today. We know that accessibility isn’t just a matter of equity, it’s a driver of better outcomes for everyone. “When we build for inclusion from the start, we end up with experiences that benefit more people,” says Andy. “It’s good design. It’s smart business. And it’s the right thing to do.”

Andy’s current favorite listen? Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. “There’s a moment later in the story that imagines a world designed for everyone,” he said. “That really stuck with me.”