I was one of the early folks at eBay, and by 1999, it was…
“I was one of the early folks at eBay, and by 1999, it was completely overrun by consultants from McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. It went from being a cool, fun startup to an MBA factory.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Describes eBay's shift from innovative startup to consultant-driven MBA factory.
In simple terms: eBay lost its startup spirit to consulting influence.
Beware of over‑consulting in growth.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- scaling startups
- maintaining culture
- consultant impact
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When is external advice beneficial?
- How to balance innovation with structure?
Consultants can also bring valuable expertise.