eBay in Person: Andrew Lee
 Not-so-subliminal cues remind Andrew
of
his work passions... and karaoke
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Andrew Lee analyzes the needs of buyers and sellers in the DVDs & Movies category and is developing more ways to make eBay a prime destination for movie buyers and sellers.
How long have you worked at eBay?
I'm in my third year at eBay, having joined the company in July 2002 as a Product Manager.
Describe your area of responsibility.
After a year and a half in Product Management, I joined the Category Management team in January 2004. My main area of focus is the DVD & Movies category, and I also work with the category manager for Video Games.
Broadly speaking, my role is to analyze these categories to understand the needs of the Community – both buyers and sellers – and figure out how to meet them through marketing initiatives. I work closely with the Merchandising team at eBay to make sure the DVD & Movies category is represented prominently in eBay's promotions. Working with other groups like Trust & Safety and Public Relations helps me address other category needs. I also manage the “shelf space” in my categories – this includes reviewing the category structure, pre-filled item information and item specifics.
What are your top priorities?
I want to make it easier for buyers to find the movies and video games they want. One goal of mine increasing awareness of our Express Buying and Selling Zone that has product-based search and lists of top selling titles, not just in movie and video games, but also for books and music.
I also want to make sure that the category structure is adaptable and flexible enough to enable buyers and sellers to take advantage of emerging trends in the category. For example, high-definition DVDs are on the horizon in this category. I analyze the category structure, item specifics and other parameters to make sure that buyers and sellers have access to this emerging product line.
What skills have you found yourself utilizing most in your career at eBay?
Understanding eBay's Community is a “must-have” skill.
If you have a thorough understanding and appreciation of what makes our Community tick, it's much easier to garner support for your initiatives from various people at different levels within eBay. I found that the most persuasive recommendations always had a firm grounding in comprehensively understanding members' needs. And I found that looking at a project or issue from a Community perspective always resulted in the most meaningful analysis.
What are some of your most memorable eBay moments?
Although I had worked at eBay for a while, it was only in 2003 that I attended my first eBay Live!, eBay's annual Community conference. I was really impressed by how passionate and savvy our Community is.
As I met with members from other countries, different states, of all ages and backgrounds, and with a myriad of eBay businesses, the common denominator driving our conversations was a genuine excitement and understanding about the economic opportunities they were pursuing on eBay. Each of them had a memorable story about how eBay had become a part of their life. I thought it was amazing to witness the vitality of our Community that transcended so many boundaries and was continuing to evolve every day.
What do you like to do for fun?
A lot of my fun activities are actually related to my work. I know a little bit about movies and movie-making because I worked in the film businesses before joining eBay, first as an assistant to a motion picture literary agent, and later as a development executive. So, I enjoy staying on top of what's happening in the business and watching movies. I also like to ski, go camping, and play the guitar. Occasionally I even like to karaoke, but I have not auditioned for American Idol yet.
What's the most rewarding part of your job?
One of the things I enjoy most about my job is interacting with the people I work with every day. It may sound like a cliché, but I've found people at eBay to be smart, highly motivated, and deeply focused on the needs of our Community and the marketplace. Having such people for co-workers makes my two-hour commute to work worthwhile every day.
What is your favorite item that you bought or sold on eBay?
One of my favorite items that I bought on eBay was a Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits videotape that was a bon voyage gift for one of my former managers who was moving to Europe to take up a new eBay role. While I'm not a big country music fan myself, I knew that he would enjoy taking some Americana with him to keep him rooted.
What's unique about working at eBay?
To me, part of the adventure of working at eBay is that every day at eBay is a rollercoaster ride. I guess I enjoy the adrenalin rush. Despite its phenomenal growth and success, eBay is still at an early stage in its company evolution. And because the marketplace is evolving rapidly, we're pushing the envelope on innovation almost every day. I love it!
