Episode 87: Transforming Insight at eBay
What does it take to build a world-class Insight function from the ground up — and keep evolving it as the world changes around you? In the fifth episode of season 12, James is joined by Thomas Walker, VP – Global Consumer Insights at eBay, whose team has grown from just three people when he joined in 2017 to a team of around 50 today. That growth isn't just a number; it's an indicator of how seriously eBay's leadership takes the value of consumer understanding.
Thomas walks us through the vision that has guided his team's development — anchored in three powerful questions: Where do we play? How do we win? And how do we keep winning? It's a deceptively simple framework that has proven robust enough to carry the team through seismic shifts, from the pandemic to the age of AI.
What stands out about Thomas is the clarity and ambition of his thinking. Rather than waiting for the business to come to him with questions, he champions a proactive approach — one where Insight shapes strategy, not just supports it. It's a mindset that will feel both challenging and galvanising for Insight professionals at any stage of their career.
We also dig into eBay's relationship with AI, including a fascinating 30-day AI challenge that brought the whole team on the journey together. For Thomas, AI isn't simply a tool for doing things faster — it's a creative partner that can unlock new ways of thinking and working.
This is a rich, forward-looking conversation full of practical wisdom for anyone who wants to build Insight functions that genuinely drive competitive advantage.
Please listen to find out more!
Topics Discussed
- Growth of the Insight Team over the Years (2.26)
- The Three Fundamental Questions for Businesses(4.42)
- The Shift from Function to Capability in Insights (10.17)
- Embracing AI: The 30 Day Challenge (13.10)
- The Role of Insight Leaders in Shaping Questions (21.42)
- Creating the Future You Want to Be Part of (24.55)
This is episode 87 of the Transforming Insight podcast.
If you have the ambition to transform your Insight team and the role it plays in your organisation, please tune in to future episodes. Not only will we explore the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams as outlined in the Transforming Insight book, and the 9Ps of The Insight Leader’s Playbook, we will also talk to senior corporate Insight leaders, delve into books that have inspired us, and discuss new best practice research carried out with the IMA’s corporate members.
About James Wycherley, the author of Transforming Insight
James Wycherley was Director of Customer Insight and Analytics at Barclays Bank from 2005 to 2015 when he became Chief Executive of the Insight Management Academy (IMA).
He published his first book, Transforming Insight, in 2020, and his second, The Insight Leader’s Playbook, in 2025, and he hosts the Insight forums and the Transforming Insight podcast.
An entertaining keynote speaker, he has presented over 50 times at Quirk’s events, a global record, and has provided thought leadership in the UK, USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, India and the Middle East.
The Insight Management Academy is the world’s leading authority on transforming corporate Insight teams, and its vision is to inspire and support every Insight leader to transform the impact of Insight in their organisation.
Resources:
If you would like more information on any of the ideas discussed in this episode of the Transforming Insight podcast, please visit www.insight-management.org
Disclaimer
The Transforming Insight podcast is published by the Insight Management Academy and produced by Zorbiant.
