We are proud to welcome JB Helip, Global Head – Payment Outsourcing & Governance at eBay, to the EMEA Recruitment podcast.

“In order to grow and develop, you need to make tough decisions and try things that you wouldn’t have done otherwise.”

JB spoke to Paul Toms, our Founder, from his home in Switzerland, where he’s lived for the past ten years. Previously, he lived in and worked in his home country of France, before moving to Canada for seven years. JB discusses the different cultures and ways of working in each country that he’s lived in, from the formal, hierarchical culture of France, to the casual, North American style of Canada. He now enjoys the tech environment in Bern, which he describes as “super casual”. It’s been a pleasant return for JB to a culture that focuses on results.

Despite his background in risk management, leaving France was one of the most important decisions JB’s ever made, both personally and professionally. In fact, he explains how he’d negotiated with his boss in Paris to hire him when he came back from Canada after six months, but ended up staying abroad for seven years!

Working at eBay was the first time that JB had exposure to the tech industry. It was a discovery that was quite “unsettling” at first, having previously been involved in more traditional sectors. We explore how high the stakes are in technology, due to the ever-expanding nature of the industry and the emergence of global powers.

Paul uncovers the one piece of advice that JB has taken with him throughout his career – it might not be for everyone, but JB insists that life is too short not to step out of your comfort zone every once in a while.

In fact, this mindset allowed JB to make one of the toughest decisions in his career and step away from risk management at eBay. It was the support of those around him and the ability to work on business projects that gave JB the opportunity to move into Payments.

We discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic and emerging business models have challenged traditional methods of payments, and why this is good for the customer.

JB explains the mindset and attitude that are needed to work within a global, fast-paced environment, such as eBay. He also offers advice for those looking to enter a career in Finance business partnering and the one activity that has proven successful in landing every job he’s ever had since working in risk management.

If you’d like to listen to a specific part of the episode, please use the timestamps below:

01:52: Different ways of working across the world
05:52: The importance of moving abroad
07:59: The most challenging sector to work in
10:04: Discovering the world of online marketplaces
13:56: The best advice JB has ever received
17:42: Stepping out of risk management
18:57: Challenges in the Payments discipline
22:26: The mindset needed for a career at eBay
25:14: Advice for those starting their career
29:15: How to network
30:43: How to reach out and connect with JB

You can listen to the full episode here: 

Or at: https://emearecruitment.libsyn.com/emea-recruitment-podcast-82-the-mindset-needed-for-a-career-at-ebay-jb-helip

If you’d like to reach out to JB on LinkedIn, remember to send him a short note and introduction! His profile can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbhelip/

We’d like to thank Operation Smile for partnering with us on the EMEA Recruitment podcast. We are proud to support the international medical charity in delivering life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. To find out more, click here: https://www.emearecruitment.com/pages/operation-smile

The podcast is hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Jenny Callum, Associate Director.

You can read more about EMEA Recruitment through our website: https://www.emearecruitment.com/

We are also active on LinkedIn, if you’d like to follow us there: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

To connect with Paul, visit his profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/

Or Jenny, at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/

We are open to hearing your suggestions of topics that you’d like to hear more about on the EMEA Recruitment podcast. Please get in touch via LinkedIn.