It is rare to sit with a CEO and the mother of the CEO. The proud mom is Lili Khosrowshahi; Her son, Dara, is driving Uber as managing director. “I actually say that he is working to Uber,” said Lili. “Sometimes I say he drives, he is a driver.”
They sat with us to share the story of their family immigration. In 1978, the Khosrowshahis fled Tehran and the Iranian Revolution. “We were forced to leave Iran – it was not our decision,” said Lili. “It was done in one day.”
Dara’s father managed a family business that made them rich, but also, they say, a target. “You don’t sit down to say:” Well, family planning for a revolution “, right? It never comes to mind,” said Dara. “We have lost everything.”
“We came from a much better life to a smaller life,” said Lili. “At the time, coffee was 15 cents, and I wouldn’t even buy a cup of coffee. In fact, I don’t pay the Starbucks coffee to date. ”
“Mama, Starbucks is a Uber Eats client. You have to talk about it! ” Dara intervenes. “I love Starbucks, personally!”
“I’ll let you pay,” said mom.
CBS News
It is this easy but strategic tone that Khosrowshahi brought to Uber. Launched in 2009, the company transformed the way millions of people move. When Khosrowshahi took care of in 2017Uber was sadly famous for a toxic work culture and a growth approach at all costs.
When he took over, his work was described as “one of the worst cleaning jobs in the history of American capitalism”.
“Well, I think it was a little too dramatized,” said Khosrowshahi. “But it was true that I had to come and change the culture of the business. And I think that the company, with hindsight, was too aggressive in certain ways. And I think that now we are doing things more than we are wrong.”
However, Uber defends himself in the proceedings for his billing practices and his security to passengers.
Then there is the company’s relationship with President Donald Trump. Eight years ago, Khosrowshahi was CEO of Expedia – and condemned Mr. Trump’s Muslim ban. Today, he is one of the many CEOs who are now committed to President Trump.
“I think that, as CEO of an American company, you want the country to succeed,” said Khosrowshahi. “And so, this means supporting any administration in power. You will have your disagreement. You will have your agreements. We must navigate in a period of a strong economy, but at the same time, significant uncertainty.”
I asked: “It is not much of this uncertainty cause by this president?
“Uncertainty comes with change,” he replied. “And I think the president ran on a change mandate. As CEO, as a business, you know, we have to adapt to this environment that we see. ”
And Uber adjusts. Last month, he announced new cheaper driving options. The sharing of route corresponds to the runners with other passengers along the predefined trips.
“Does it look like a glorified carpooling?” I asked.
“Well, what is old is new again,” said Khosrowshahi.
“We have heard many runners that Uber rides have become much more expensive in recent years, more than the inflation rate-what happens here?”
“Well, I think it’s inflation,” said Khosrowshahi. “And the Middle Uber journey is now just over $ 20. Our drivers must earn a living, and therefore really the demand for drivers and remuneration has increased, which results in the ultimate price of Uber driving. ”
The concerns concerning the remuneration and the services of drivers persist … even if the compensation of Khosrowshahi has increased, to around 40 million dollars per year.
Asked what people should do with it, Khosrowshahi said: “We, as a company, I think that as a country, clearly, we have done incredibly very economically. But I think that the inequality you see with regard to the final compensation, like someone who is lucky like me, and the middle class, and this is too big, in my opinion. “
Too big gap? “Yeah. I think it’s too big. Now I don’t have a solution for that.”
It is a gap that can be even greater.
Last week, Uber widened its Robotaxi service to Atlanta, launching trips in Autonomous Waymos.
Khosrowshahi said: “Everyone wants transport on demand, food, and this. So, we actually see AV (autonomous vehicle) and human driving can grow over the next five to 10 years. ”
“You don’t think the number of human drivers will decrease?” I asked.
“Not in the next five years,” he replied. “Then we will have to adapt as a company.”
For the moment, robotaxis is neither cheaper nor faster than a human driver. But Khosrowshahi says they are as safe as possible. “Statistics certainly confirm this,” he said.
CBS News
Khosrowshahi focuses on the coming road, but his past is never far behind. When he was a teenager, his father returned to Iran for what he thought was a short visit … but the government would not let him go.
Lili said: “During the six years when your father was absent, you never even mentioned his name. And I told you that dad was free to come, and you started to cry like crazy. I mean, you could not stop crying. So you know, you had learned to hide your feelings. But as immigrants, we all learned to hide feelings.”
Emotional, Dara asked for a break in the interview. “I don’t remember the special moment,” he said. “But I remember time. And I think, you know, mom is absolutely right. You adapt to the situation to your best. ”
“Adjustment” … Dara Khosrowshahi amounts to returning to this word, in work and in life.
I asked, “You said,” We came at some point that was welcoming to immigrants. “Is this still the case right now?
“I think you know, we are going through a transition now as a nation,” he replied. “There is a reset in terms of what immigration here is correct, it is legal. It’s hard for many people. But I hope we remain the kind of country that attracts the best and the brightest who want to build a life here. And I hope I can help others to live the same dream as I have. ”
For more information:
History produced by Dustin Stephens. Publisher: Joseph Fundino.