HD in HD From Iranian Refugee to Uber CEO | Dara Khosrowshahi
17 snips
Nov 24, 2025 
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber and former Expedia chief, shares his incredible journey from an Iranian refugee to a tech titan. He discusses how his immigrant background taught him adaptability and the significance of education. Dara reflects on his early career challenges, the crucial lesson of betting on people over models, and how he transformed Uber from deep losses to profitability. He also explores the evolution of ridesharing, his vision for a real-time logistics network, and the importance of maintaining culture under public scrutiny.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
From Industrial Wealth To Immigrant Start
- Dara describes losing his family's large Iranian manufacturing business during the revolution and relocating to a three-bedroom condo in Tarrytown, New York.
- His parents rebuilt lives: his father later returned to Iran then had health struggles, and his mother worked retail to support three boys.
Bet On People Over Models
- At Allen & Company Herbert Allen's advice was to "bet on people" because good companies come and go but good people endure.
- Dara credits truth-tellers and loyal people as the traits he learned to prioritize in hires and partners.
Joining Barry Diller's Rollup
- Dara joined Barry Diller after eight years at Allen & Company and led strategic M&A at IAC, buying Ticketmaster, Match, Expedia, and Hotels.com.
- He recounts Barry's style: charismatic, confrontational, and willing to test leaders by "throwing them into the deep end."
