Meg Whitman Energizes NFIB Summit Delegates for Trip to Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 20, 2006—Lauding NFIB for fighting the good fight in Washington for small businesses, eBay CEO Meg Whitman outlined the many common priorities of both groups as she took the stage at this morning's session of the 2006 NFIB National Small-Business Summit. On behalf of eBay's community of 724,000 small businesses, Whitman thanked NFIB for what it has achieved in Washington to further the cause.
"I'm not here to give you advice on issues, or to tell you how to be effective in Washington," Whitman said. "For starters, you have already taken the single best piece of advice anyone could give you on how to help small businesses make an impact in Washington—you joined the NFIB!"
Whitman believes the dynamics of the eBay marketplace—which create a level playing field ensuring each person the same chance of success—are ideally suited to help entrepreneurs create and grow small businesses.
In fact, one of the surprises of the Internet revolution is that "individuals and small business have benefited disproportionately," she said. "Proving once again, everyday people are always a few steps ahead of the experts."
Whitman said that more than 724,000 Americans report that eBay is their primary or secondary source of income, trading in more than $12 billion worth of goods in the first quarter of 2006.
"They are using eBay to pursue their passions and live their dreams," she said. "To me, this is what entrepreneurialism is all about: Being successful doing what you love."
Whitman outlined opportunities where eBay and NFIB could speak with one voice on Capitol Hill about issues important to small business.
"In many areas we have common goals," she said, among them securing effective and affordable private-sector health insurance and fighting state government proposals to extend sales-tax collection to the Internet.
Calling herself a "true believer" in small-business owners telling their personal stories to lawmakers, Whitman will join NFIB President Todd Stottlemyer and NFIB members as they travel to Capitol Hill today to meet with members of Congress.
As president and CEO of eBay since March 1998, Whitman has led the company to become an unparalleled global e-commerce engine. Her expertise in brand building, combined with her consumer technology experience, has helped eBay evolve into a leading company that is reshaping online commerce, payments and communications around the world.
Prior to eBay, Whitman was general manager of Hasbro's Preschool Division, responsible for global management and marketing of two of the world's best-known children's brands, Playskool and Mr. Potato Head. From 1995 to 1997, Whitman was president and chief executive officer of Florists Transworld Delivery, the world's largest floral products company.
