Decision Makers: Deniz Ertan, eBay How eBay Decision Maker Deniz Ertan Fights Fraud

Deniz Ertan

Senior Director of Buyer Risk

Growing up the youngest of three siblings in Turkey, Deniz discovered early that she had a curious, problem-solving spirit — and a knack for numbers. “Math was my favorite subject in school, and it led me to discover my passion for solving complex problems." Combining her love of numbers with her desire to solve problems in real-time, Deniz’s career began at a consumer finance startup, where she discovered an additional love for risk management and fraud prevention. From there, roles at Experian and a debt-consolidation startup, Happy Money, helped her hone her fraud-fighting skills. But in 2015, while her career path was in full bloom, Deniz won a green card lottery, prompting a significant life change. With her husband and six-year-old daughter in tow, and with new and exciting opportunities on the horizon, Deniz and her family left their friends and extended family to start planting their roots in the United States.

Early on, I discovered how much I enjoyed fraud prevention. The thrill of uncovering hidden patterns and unraveling complex schemes fueled my passion for making a difference.

Despite the extraordinary challenges of adapting to a new culture and language, Deniz’s determination to create a better future for her family kept her focused on building her life and career in the U.S. In 2021, an opportunity arose at eBay that presented a chance to not only to help transform the company's approach to risk management but also to shift the perception of the risk management team — from being seen as “blockers” to champions of business growth. “As I started to dive into marketplaces, I realized that it wasn’t solely about mitigating losses; it was about instilling a culture, finding a balance, and empowering the risk team to better identify growth opportunities,” she recalls. “By finding that balance of collaboration and communication across departments, we cultivated a culture that embraced risk as a key part of achieving success in the marketplace arena.” This approach epitomizes Deniz’s leadership and is rooted in the lessons she learned from her family and in the garden: the more you nurture, the more you can help others grow.

Dealing with fraud is a big part of Deniz’s day-to-day life. Like time spent in the garden, she meticulously tends to eBay’s fraud strategy, assessing risk and working cross functionally to deliver superior marketplace experiences to loyal eBay buyers and sellers. “Balancing convenience for customers with tight security is like walking a tightrope,” Deniz notes. “We must ensure our security measures don’t complicate the customer journey while still closing any loopholes fraudsters might exploit.” At eBay, ensuring a superior experience means connecting people and building communities that create economic opportunity for all. For Deniz, this means that deploying the right technology and finding the best partners is vital.

Within their organizations, decision makers are the audacious ones. Unconcerned with the status quo, they make moves designed to free themselves — and their teams — from the stress of fraud prevention. With Forter, decision makers get guaranteed results so they can focus their time and energy on strategic opportunities that have a bigger impact on their organizations.

Background

Career Path

Making Connections

Fighting Fraud

Being a Decision Maker

This story is part of a Decision Makers series featuring industry leaders within our customer base.

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CAREER PATH

ENHANCING EXPERIENCES

EBAY & LEADERSHIP

In the garden, you're constantly monitoring and adjusting to the needs of your plants. Leading a team requires similar vigilance and adaptability. You need to be attentive to the changing landscape, ready to address challenges, and nurture potential wherever you find it.

Staying ahead of fraud requires investing in the right technology and being proactive. With Forter, we access a wealth of network data and fraud expertise, reducing friction for legitimate customers while maintaining robust fraud prevention.

BEING A DECISION MAKER

How eBay’s Senior Director of Buyer Risk nurtures success at work and in the garden

As the Senior Director of Buyer Risk at eBay, Deniz Ertan’s days are dedicated to safeguarding customer transactions in a dynamic global marketplace. But at home, she finds her peace unwinding with her husband, John, daughter, Madison, and their dog, Charlie. “My family means unconditional love and is my safe space of belonging,” she notes. Beyond her personal and professional responsibilities, the essence of Deniz’s identity flourishes in her garden, where the simple tasks of tending and cultivating offer a sense of tranquility and fulfillment.

Gardening isn’t just a hobby; it’s truly a way for me to unwind and find balance. It helps me better understand patience and helps me work on my attention to detail.

Deniz’s journey from Turkey to the U.S. exemplifies her ability to adapt and thrive in new environments. Her dedication to her team mirrors the care she gives to her garden and her family, where patience, attention to detail, and continuous nurturing are keys to growth. By finding the harmony between gardening and leadership, Deniz has transformed eBay’s approach to fraud management — creating a culture of empowerment and ensuring her team feels valued and motivated.

Being a Decision Maker means embracing the responsibility of driving progress and leading others with clarity and purpose, even when the path ahead may feel unclear.

Deniz notes. “It’s important to understand the company’s goals, but equally as important to be able to collaborate and communicate well with others and help others grow and feel empowered in their roles.”

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This story is part of a Decision Makers series featuring industry leaders within our customer base.

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