Squawk Pod Leaders Playbook: Inside Uber 1/21/26
Jan 21, 2026
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, and Andrew Macdonald, President/COO, share insights into Uber's transformative journey. They discuss shifting the company culture towards doing the right thing and rebuilding trust with drivers and regulators. Dara highlights rapid adaptations during COVID, including the pivot to Uber Eats, and the importance of investing in driver supply. They also touch on strategies for competing with rivals, the role of technology in safety improvements, and preparing for an autonomous future.
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Decompose Big Problems
- Break complex company problems into separate pieces, make plans, and execute on each one.
- Rebuild culture, regulator trust, and driver relationships in parallel while tackling profitability.
One Guiding Value Scales Judgment
- Dara replaced 'always be hustling' with a single guiding value: do the right thing.
- He argues employees must exercise judgment because Uber's scale gives them power over many constituencies.
Enter Wartime Mode Fast
- When demand collapsed in COVID, Dara says to go into wartime mode: decide fast and inspire the team.
- Cut costs decisively and pivot into growing segments like delivery to create a lifeline.