Dave Ferguson: From Waymo to Nuro and the Future of Self-Driving Cars

Stan is joined by Dave Ferguson, Co-Founder and President of Nuro. In this episode, Dave discusses his transition from Waymo to Nuro, the pivotal shifts in their business model, and how they've managed to secure a monumental partnership with Uber and Lucid to create robo-taxis. Dave also opens up about the challenges faced during Nuro's evolution, from team restructuring to investor negotiations, and offers a glimpse into the future of autonomous vehicles. Don't miss this episode filled with valuable lessons on leadership, technology, and the path to a safer, autonomous future.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview

01:26 Dave Ferguson's Background and Early Career

03:24 Founding Nuro and Co-Founder Dynamics

05:45 The Role of Coaching in Leadership

07:06 Nuro's Initial Vision and Market Challenges

09:30 The Strategic Pivot and Its Implications

15:47 Navigating Partnerships and Investor Relations

18:34 Post-Pivot Challenges and Negotiations

24:40 Employee Motivation and Overcoming Friction

25:07 Honesty and Vulnerability in Leadership

26:18 Handling Employee Turnover

28:06 Introduction to Nuro's New Business Model

30:51 Partnerships with Uber and Lucid

34:39 The Importance of Trust in Negotiations

41:57 Future of Autonomous Vehicles

47:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.