"Kate's work was impressive. She demonstrated that a good PM on a technical App Modernization project can provide massive value. Her ability to focus and prioritize helped our team meet the OKRs in just 3 weeks. The client feedback was stellar and I strongly believe Kate's contributions played a big role. Thank you, Kate!"
Biz/Org
StubHub
Year
2019
E-Commerce
Pricing Systems
Overview
“Kate’s ability to focus and prioritize helped our team meet the OKRs on a short 3-week project. Her contributions played a big role.” – Mahil Maurice, Pivotal
StubHub needed to modernize its pricing architecture to keep up with marketplace demands. I led discovery and delivery for a full-stack system overhaul, transforming siloed, legacy pricing logic into a centralized, flexible platform that supported real-time experimentation, modular APIs, and future dynamic pricing strategies.
Facilitated cross-team discovery using event storming, service mapping, and dependency audits
Prioritized brittle backend systems (like the POET tool) for early modernization wins
Developed a phased architecture migration plan using Swift Methodology (Mode 2 patterns)
Integrated real-time data models to support dynamic experimentation, A/B testing, and price guidance
Delivered a multi-stream roadmap tying backend infrastructure to high-value business outcomes
Goals
How might we turn pricing from a fragile legacy system into a product-led advantage—one that’s ready for real-time experimentation and marketplace scale?
StubHub’s pricing tools were inconsistent, scattered, and opaque. Engineers couldn’t iterate. Product teams couldn’t trust data. And pricing strategy often relied more on instinct than insight. My goal was to align teams around a shared future vision and create the foundation to ship smarter pricing decisions, faster.
Built trust across engineering, pricing strategy, and platform teams through working sessions
Defined a clean domain model and future-state APIs for both Buy and Sell flows
Unblocked experimentation via integration with POET, Optimizely, and pricing aggregators
Delivered a strategic roadmap layered with milestones, metrics, and modernization impact
Challenges
Deep technical debt with limited documentation or shared ownership
Siloed pricing logic spread across internal tools, ops workflows, and legacy code
High pressure from leadership to show ROI early—without compromising architectural integrity
Need to modernize without breaking current pricing experiences for buyers and sellers
Solutions
Prioritized the POET Tool refactor to deliver early value while minimizing upstream dependencies
Introduced reusable APIs across Sell Flow, Buy Flow, and Auto Pricing logic
Mapped out synchronous and asynchronous state change messaging across critical domains
Embedded experimentation-enabling features like modular pricing object models and metrics dashboards
Championed cross-org alignment through weekly planning sessions, Miro architecture diagrams, and workshop facilitation
Outcome & Impact
Transformed pricing from fragile legacy logic into a reusable, centralized platform service
Enabled modular experimentation across multiple product flows with integrated test tooling
Unblocked dynamic pricing strategies for high-demand events, unlocking future revenue levers
Reduced technical debt and improved development velocity for pricing-related features
Left behind a living roadmap, strategy model, and architecture artifacts to sustain the work post-engagement
