Meet Robert Chatwani, Founder of eBay's WorldofGood.com

Big business often gets a bad rap for bruising up our environment and frequently placing profits before people--because often it's true.

But then there are the rare gems turning this stereotype on its head, like Robert Chatwani, the bourgeoning business whiz who uses his MBA for good, managing eBay's fair trade marketplace, WorldofGood.com. After a jaunt through one of India's open air markets, Robert took one glimpse at the merchants' beautiful goods and their need for a viable market. He left inspired to connect marginalized artisans with shop-til-you-drop Americans. And thus, World of Good was born.

The most compelling part of Robert's story however, is that that he didn't have to trade in traditional business for one with a fair trade twist. Prior to his World of Good post, the then young marketing executive was already climbing eBay's ranks (and we can assume their assigned salary increases).

World of Good was conceived out of Robert's creativity, strong sense of social responsibility and compassion--successfully proving that there does exist a model of consumerism and big business that can benefit the world.

How did you get into this line of work?
I joined eBay in 2003. Prior to that, I worked in management consulting, advised a number of early stage technology companies, and co-founded a consumer internet company focused on barter. I get really passionate about the power of e-commerce, trade and technology. What drew me to eBay was that it's the world's largest online marketplace serving hundreds of millions of users--but at the heart of every transaction, two people interacting with each other, bound by trust and the mutual interest. When you take such a simple concept and remove all boundaries--physical, geographic, and cultural--that's powerful.

I've been fortunate to have a number of roles within the company spanning product, strategy, marketing and managing. Most recently I was asked to lead eBay's global citizenship vision, which spans our marketplaces and payments businesses.

What was your "a-ha" moment?
When I visited an open market in Ahmedabad, India right around the time I joined eBay. I observed artisans crafting intricate gold jewelery for local retailers. I asked myself a simple question: "What if these artisans had access to a global market--what if they could sell on eBay?" I sourced some samples, brought them back to the US and along with some friends here at work, I posted them on eBay. We quickly generated over $500 in profits and donated the proceeds to the American India Foundation. That little experiment turned into a whole new online marketplace for global producers, called WorldofGood.com by eBay.

Who is your green hero?
I'm fairly practical when it comes to being green, so I respect anyone who's greener than me! I feel lucky to be living in Northern California, which is a hotbed of innovation when it comes to the environment. Whether it's community supported agriculture or the development of clean tech fuel cells, we have it all right here in our backyard.

What is your ultimate green goal?
Making it easy for consumers to make informed choices about what they buy. There's a story behind every product we purchase but we're rarely exposed to it. US consumer spending represents nearly 70% of GDP--compared to any other industrialized country; we have the highest proportion of GDP going towards consumption. American consumers are clearly the most powerful economic force in the world. We'll always choose to buy what serves our self interest. But I believe that transparency and informed choice is very important.

What is your motivation?
I believe that technology is creating opportunities that never existed before--opportunities to connect people, facilitate commerce, and shape livelihoods. One could argue that more economic integration has taken place in the past 25 years than in the previous 10,000 years of human history. I've seen the positive side of globalization, and the economic benefits that come from access to an efficient market. I realize this is a bold statement given that we're still recovering from a major economic crisis.

What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?
Pierre Omidyar, eBay's founder, says that "business is a force for good." I believe in that statement. What's important to me is that as consumers, even when we're motivated to shop by price or other practical attributes, we make smart choices that respect people and the planet. At eBay, we call this sustainable commerce.

What is the most challenging part of your job?
Maintaining focus through prioritization. I work with incredibly talented colleagues, and we see a tremendous number of things that we could be doing in the world. It's tempting to take on a lot--but to succeed; we need to do the hard work of prioritizing.

What is the most rewarding?
Clearly, it's seeing the positive social and environmental impact generated by millions of eBay users. Whether it's creating employment for global sellers, keeping goods out of landfills through the sale of pre-owned products, or raising funds for non-profits through charity auctions, eBay buyers and sellers are a massively powerful force. Often, they don't even realize it.

Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?
Earlier, I mentioned Pierre Omidyar. Pierre's actions taught me to create my own opportunities, pursue my passion, and maintain a strong dose of humility. Passion is important because it motivates you to work hard and helps you enjoy the process of building something. And humility is important because it helps you observe, listen and draw great ideas from everywhere.

What green thing do you do everyday?
Each day I try to spend a little bit of time in our garden with my two daughters, ages 1 and 4. There's nothing more exciting than to see their faces light up when a new flower starts to bloom, a tomato turns from green to red, or the seeds in the bird feeder disappear overnight.

What do you wish you could do?
I've always wanted to be a cardiac surgeon. Don't ask...I can't explain it. I think I'll continue to stick to what I'm doing now.

What is your biggest eco-sin?
I love Indian mangoes--the variety called Alphonso mangoes. But due to their short shelf life, they're flown in from Western India via air freight. I feel a small tinge of guilt every time I peel the Cathay Pacific label off the box, but it doesn't last long. You should really try one.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
I'd encourage leaders around to the world to begin measuring Gross National Happiness, just like they do in Bhutan. This might sound a bit funny, but entertain me for a second. As humans, we are all united in our fundamental desire to be happy. So just like any worthy goal, we should be measuring it. I'm envisioning a global index that measures countries against one another. You know, if you make it competitive I think American's are more likely to participate.

What is your best green advice?
Change your light bulbs! OK, that's a joke. My advice is to "be an evangelist." Help your friends, family or co-workers make better decisions about what they buy, what they eat, or how they travel. And do it in a nice way. People trust people--that's how good change happens.

Change Makers is a series of interviews with people famous and obscure who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.

More on World of Good at TreeHugger:
Fair Trade Ornaments at World of Good
The TH Interview: Robert Chatwani, eBay's Greenest Rising Star
eBay's New Green Team Steers Shoppers Towards Eco Purchases

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