Uber has come a long way since its conception in 2009 – record-breaking sales and revenues, as well as unbeatable market performance. Believe it or not, it has maintained its focus and discipline, and stayed on target, to keep its reputation as the world’s number one ridesharing company.
All thanks to passengers willing to invest more into what can make their rides to their destinations super convenient. But, partly, Uber cannot reach this success without the work of its leader, much like every other business, its chief executive officer – the leading migratory bird and the leader in a pack of ducks.
He is none other than Dara Khosrowshahi.
Somehow, the success of a business is reflected in who its leader or CEO is. Khosrowshahi recently shared with ridesharing media that there is one word that stands as the secret for his triumph and that of Uber.
Fifty-five-year-old Dara Khosrowshahi, who has Iranian and American roots, is a business executive who heads Uber as its CEO. He was previously the leader of Expedia Group, on the boards of BET.com and Hotels.com, and on the board of The New York Times Company.
Khosrowshahi first made a name for himself as a protege of the person who acquired Expedia. He then leveraged and negotiated that experience into becoming the CEO of the travel company himself. From 2005 to 2016, he more than quadrupled Expedia’s revenue.
So, when he applied to be the CEO of Uber, he had a lot of experience under his belt. However, when he sat down as its leader, he was met with to scandal-stricken company.
But, just look at how he has managed to reclaim Uber’s composure.
According to a report in The New York Times, the company’s revenue was $11.5 billion in its most recent quarter. Furthermore, the number of people shifting to and trying Uber is growing.
For Khosrowshahi, his secret plus inspiration to success isn’t a trip to a luxury place or new Disneyland resorts, but a word.
“I have gotten unbelievably lucky in my career, but I’ve gotten lucky because I’m very, very open to anything,” the Uber CEO shared with Ridesharing Forum.
However, he also recognizes that successful people also contribute, of course, to that luck.
That word is “curiosity.”
And he just didn’t think of that word, for he needed to say something in front of the media, no. Even psychology believes that curiosity and openness not only help humans be luckier and more intelligent, but also create new experiences to make individuals happier.
Curiosity and openness help people cope with, or even enjoy, this fast-changing world, so they can surf disruption with calmness toward greater success, rather than exhausting ourselves by swimming constantly against the tides.
“Be curious about meeting new people, be curious about interests that are outside of your immediate field of education,” Khosrowshahi continued. “That curiosity will open you up to the world and open you up to opportunity.”