Webcast - Michael van Swaaij

It’s about choice and balance

Michael van Swaaij

Skype and eBay’s experiences of striking the balance between a core internal team and expert help from outside, and why it is in everybody’s interest to let people choose how they want to work.

Michael is a global technology leader, currently Chairman of Skype and investor in www.crunch.co.uk. He was formerly the managing director of eBay Europe, where he started up and ran their European operations – it now has over 10 billion Euros per year in trade.

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Natasha - Corporates tapping into networks

|2009-11-23 22:38:39

Michael, I agree that freelancers do make considerable creative contributions to major corporate start-ups, for launches and strategic delivery. My experience from having worked in delivering major projects both in-house and externally, is that many organisations still struggle to track down the right freelancers for their pitch short lists. Interim management agencies have been one source, as have professional networks and colleagues, but these networks still aren't formalised I find.

The other key issue for freelancers - many with exceptional post-graduate qualifications and track records, is being seen as cheaper labour and having their skills undervalued. I think that somehow, we still need to ensure clients understand that they are getting quality expertise, compared with large agencies. This will be neededif freelancing is to thrive as a career choice.

Webcast - Michael van Swaaij

It’s about choice and balance

Michael van Swaaij

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