Google Hires Their First VP of Commerce

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February 18, 2010
By the ZippyCart Ecommerce Software Content Team

Google knows that ecommerce is a huge industry, so much in fact that they recently hired their first ever VP of Commerce, former Ebay executive Stephanie Tilenius. This means that Tilenius will be in charge of all things ecommerce at Google, including Google Checkout, which competes directly against PayPal. In addition, she will oversee everything commerce related like product search and the new upcoming Google commerce search. Most think that Tilenius was a great pick for the job, because of her diverse Internet and ecommerce background. She has been working hard in .com since 1996 when she graduated from Harvard Business School, and also founded PlanetRx.com prior to the Internet bubble bursting. However, many wonder if this is the start of something much bigger for Google, which will allow them to get further entrenched in the ecommerce space. Could they go head to head with Amazon and try to become the go to online shop to buy anything online, or will they continue to compliment these major ecommerce companies with their tools and technology? Industry analysts continue to watch Google, so they can determine where the search giant will go next with their ecommerce efforts.

There are certain lessons that Tilenius has learned over here career that she likes to remember as she take on this new role as VP of Commerce. Below are a few of the best rules to live by in business from Tilenius, which we picked up from CNN Money. These are things that any ecommerce merchant can take and apply to their business, to help them improve their results.

Think big. Develop BHAGs: big hairy audacious goals. Imagine the impossible and you will be surprised how much you can accomplish.

Take on the hardest challenges. Get out of your comfort zone. If you have not failed at something, you are probably not innovating.

Competition makes you stronger. It also makes you serve your customers better.

If you make a mistake or fail, it’s OK. Fix it fast and move forward. But make sure to take the lessons away so you do not repeat them. Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”