eBay in Person: Leslie Drate

Leslie and her dog Penny – an unbeatable team

Leslie Drate markets several programs related to the eBay Application Programming Interface (API) and also has fun buying and selling on eBay.

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How long have you worked at eBay?
I've been at eBay for just over a year, since January 2004.

Describe your area of responsibility?
I'm responsible for marketing the eBay Developers Program, as well as a variety of other programs related to the eBay Application Programming Interface (API). These programs include Live Auctions, the eBay Solutions Directory and the eBay Certified Provider Program. In case you've heard of some of these programs but are not sure what they do, let me explain.

If you're a developer who wants to build tools for the Community or for your own eBay business, you can get access to the eBay API through the eBay Developers Program. The program also provides resources to service providers.

The eBay Solutions Directory is an online directory where Community members can find the tools and services that participants in the Developers Program have created. 

Certified Providers offer many tools and services to our members – such as software, marketplace strategy consulting, merchandising design and creative, inventory management, auction metrics and reporting. Certified Providers are members of the Developers Program who are carefully screened to ensure that they can provide eBay members with top notch services and solutions to grow their eBay businesses. Among other criteria, participants must have extensive experience with eBay, pass a strict certification exam and provide a number of proven customer references that are checked by eBay.

So as an example, if you're a seller and you're looking for ways to monitor your auctions, manage your inventory or design better listings, you can use the eBay Solutions Directory to find a Certified Provider or a member of the Developers Program who is offering a tool or service to help you on a subscription or one-time fee basis.

What are your top priorities?
I'm part of a team that's focused on enabling members in the Developers Program to create software and services for eBay members. Right now we're focusing on helping developers finish their development projects and get them live on the site. And we're improving the eBay Sandbox, which is the site our developers use to test their applications in an environment that's just like eBay.com.

I've also been ramping up marketing efforts to promote our members' solutions to the eBay Community via the eBay Solutions Directory. In addition, I recently developed a Marketing Handbook that developers can use to learn more about how to market their solutions to the eBay Community. Check out the membership benefits of the Developers Program.

What skills have you found yourself utilizing most in your career at eBay?
Definitely my relationship building skills. Marketing projects can involve working with a lot of different teams at eBay. I frequently work with teams from eBay Stores, the Affiliate Program, Seller Tools, Categories, and of course, the special people who work with the Community. It always helps when you have a positive working relationship with people on other teams – getting things done can be so much more fun. We all work together to enable the eBay Community to get the right tools to succeed on eBay.

What do you like to do for fun?
I am crazy about my Border Collie mix, Penny, so I take her to the park pretty much every day. I get up early every morning before work to take her to a local park, and sometimes there are one or two other eBay employees there, as well. All of our dogs enjoy playing with each other as well as with the other dogs that come to the park (talk about relationship-building across cross-functional teams!) We do our best not to talk about work as we're chucking the tennis balls.

Six months ago I moved to San Jose from Alameda, which is about 40 miles away, to be closer to work. I'm still settling in down here, working on my house, making new friends in the area, and beginning to get to know San Jose a bit. I recently saw a great sculpture exhibit at a local gallery, and I'm beginning to learn which movie theaters serve frozen Cokes (a personal favorite of mine).

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
Ever since I discovered eBay in 2000, I've been interested in working for eBay, so getting a job here has been really meaningful for me. And working with the Developers Program is even better -- with so many people making their livings on eBay these days, I love that we're making the tools available to help them grow their businesses. There's something new and interesting going on here every day.

The other big rewarding part of my job is working with some really intelligent, good, fun people. My co-workers are a total pleasure to work with. My manager is especially great to work with – he has a great sense of humor and we work really well together as a team.

What is your favorite item that you bought or sold on eBay?
Above my desk I proudly display an email from Meg congratulating me on getting my turquoise star. I've bought and sold quite a few items over the years. I've been purchasing a lot of items to decorate my new home, and a couple of months ago I purchased a Danish bench. I got a great deal on it, and after I received it I took it apart and reupholstered it with fabric I also purchased on eBay. Now it's beautiful!

Who are your role models?
I really respect the management at eBay. They're all so bright and committed, and I know when they make a decision, they have the best intentions for the Community in mind. And if they make what the Community feels is a mistake, they do their best to fix it. I haven't experienced this attitude so prevalently at other companies where I've worked.