Abstract

The case examines the managerial and leadership skills of Meg Whitman, the CEO of eBay, the leading US-based online auction site. EBay’s business model and its growth since its inception in 1995 upto the entry of Whitman in 1998 are discussed. The case also traces Whitman’s rapid rise up the corporate ladder and examines the circumstances that led her to join eBay. Whitman’s managerial and leadership capabilities are also discussed in detail. The case also examines the reasons for Whitman’s emphasis on customers and describes the various strategies she formulated to make eBay a global online company. The case also examines the criticism leveled against Whitman and explores the future prospects of Whitman and eBay.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Leveraging the Ebay business model by Meg Whitman.

Keywords

Managerial, leadership skills, Meg Whitman, CEO, eBay, US-based, online auction site, business model, 1995, 1998, corporate ladder, managerial, leadership, customers, global online company, criticism, future prospects