EqualVoice United Special

AI is a huge opportunity, especially for us women

Interview with Janine Buerger, CFO at eBay

How would you describe yourself and your job to a child?

Janine Buerger: I am a colorful bouquet of flowers, I have many facets and I am a very curious person. I like to try new things, be it privately or professionally. Finance also has a lot to do with curiosity and creativity, finding solutions and new approaches. I make sure that our money makes the right ideas possible. You could say I sit on a pile of money like Scrooge McDuck and distribute the coins for great projects.

What were the biggest challenges on your professional path?

Working as a young woman in a very male-dominated field and therefore adapting my communication to the rather factual and direct style. And that in an international environment. It wasn’t just the language that was challenging, but also the cultural background. Early on, a sparring circle or a mentor would have helped me to recognize blind spots faster.

Did you have to prove yourself more than your male colleagues?

I don’t know if I had to, but I did. We women often feel that we have to deliver more than our male colleagues. This also applies to promotions and salary increases. I never asked for them, I thought they would see what I achieve. A few years ago, I asked my former manager why she had never promoted me. Her answer: I had never asked for it. That’s when it clicked for me.

You started in the automotive industry at 20. What did you learn from that time?

As a young woman, I already took on projects that were not promising from the outset: from training much older colleagues in American accounting law to building shared service centers in Poland to integrating start-ups into a corporate company. I had to master the language and cultural barriers in the international environment over the years. I often jumped into the deep end and left my comfort zone. I enjoyed learning new things, and I liked it best when it had to be built from scratch. I understood that even big hurdles are manageable if you approach them systematically, are courageous, and deliver consistently.

You have been working at eBay for 16 years now. Before your position as CFO Germany & European Central Markets, you held over ten different positions. Do you get bored quickly?

Yes, I love changes. I have always taken on new challenges – even those that perhaps no one else internally wanted. What is important to me is my international work and diverse areas of activity through various international start-ups that eBay has acquired and sold over the years. I have worked in five countries and often took the risk that it might not be easy with the new area. This massively accelerated my learning curve. It was not always just important to me to take the next step on the career ladder, but above all, to gain new experiences.

What are your priorities as CFO?

For me, close collaboration with the business is very important. Developing strategies together, understanding data, and supporting innovations – therefore much more commercial than just focusing on costs. I also always try to think outside the box and incorporate my experiences from other industries and countries. Of course, artificial intelligence is also a big topic. And there I see enormous opportunities, especially for us women.

In what way?

I am convinced that we women bring key competencies for dealing with AI. We need to change the way we work. Empathy, creativity, solution-oriented thinking, and a strong sense of community will be very important from my perspective. These skills not only help to develop innovative approaches but also to shape AI responsibly and in the interest of society. AI automates the standard – context, creativity, and empathy in the team make the difference. The human component will be much more important in the future than just the rational one.

What culture does eBay live internally, be it regarding diversity or inclusion?

That is part of our DNA. My teams have always been very diverse and consist of many different nationalities. It’s not about where you come from, but what contribution you make. eBay promotes an open working environment and the equality of men and women. I myself lead various initiatives like “Woman at Finance” and provide coaching and mentoring because it is important to me to support women in their careers. And to show that mistakes are allowed to be made in order to learn.

How do you switch off?

I travel a lot, like to try new things, and enjoy sailing. Last October I was in Japan and this April I spent several weeks in Costa Rica. I travel all over the world and have a large network of different people. I like to surround myself with people who are different from me and offer other perspectives. Furthermore, it gives me back the energy to help other people and support them in their development. All my commitment as a coach and mentor, in women’s forums or on the board of NGOs, sharpens my empathy and ambiguity tolerance, which in my opinion are key in transformations.

Is there a life motto that guides you? 

A few years ago, a colleague encouraged me during a professional challenge and said: Of course you can do it, Janine. Stand by you and your decisions. The phrase “Own it” is displayed on my computer. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will? I am proud that I have always remained authentic. It is important to be true to yourself and to trust yourself and your abilities. That’s what I want to tell all women.

How can they best do that? 

20 years ago, it would have helped me to have women in leadership positions as role models. I advise young women to get mentors and coaches already at the beginning of their careers. It is helpful to have someone who shows you certain behaviors and so-called blind spots. Our own perception differs from that of others; we often misjudge ourselves. This can lead to mistakes and missed opportunities. I want us women to support each other and encourage each other not to wait for someone to choose us – we take our place. As my colleague did for me back then when I needed that affirmation. Besides mentors, peers and allies are the central key.

September, 2025

Source: Translation of an article first published in HANDELSZEITUNG, EqualVoice United Special, on September 04, 2025.