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Uber Board to Discuss CEO Absence, Policy Changes: Source

nytimes.com

31–40 of 110 posts

Re: Uber Board to Discuss CEO Absence, Policy Changes: Source

#31
The board can't force him out if he doesn't want to go, can it? (Due to his special shares) Can the company thrive with someone else running it? And will it be obvious enough for Travis to see this? (How do you fight all the local taxi commissions without a combative streak?)

I wonder if this will eventually cause companies to think twice about this type of governance.

Re: Uber Board to Discuss CEO Absence, Policy Changes: Source

#33
post #2

Something wrong about this: someone in power being held accoutable for their incompetence and bad behavior. Or did he just loose some rich people too much money?

What incompetence? This guy built $70B company from scratch in markets which had regulations and very active taxi unions lobbying against the very existence of the company. More importantly, Uber has helped improve the lives of hundreds of millions of commuters across the globe. What have you done lately which is anything close to what Travis built vs. just commenting on a tech forum at his incompetence? Also, it is…

> This guy built $70B company from scratch

Are you kidding me? Most of that is paid for by the Saudis, VCs, and their ilk.

Re: Uber Board to Discuss CEO Absence, Policy Changes: Source

#34
post #2

Something wrong about this: someone in power being held accoutable for their incompetence and bad behavior. Or did he just loose some rich people too much money?

What incompetence? This guy built $70B company from scratch in markets which had regulations and very active taxi unions lobbying against the very existence of the company. More importantly, Uber has helped improve the lives of hundreds of millions of commuters across the globe. What have you done lately which is anything close to what Travis built vs. just commenting on a tech forum at his incompetence? Also, it is…

> What have you done lately which is anything close to what Travis built vs. just commenting on a tech forum at his incompetence?

It's true, I haven't condoned obtaining the confidential medical records of a rape victim by my direct report, ignored dozens of sexual harassment complaints by my employees, or attempted to suppress an HR complaint about me taking my managers to an escort bar in Korea.

I am being deliberately facetious, but your argument "what have you done lately?" is a double edged sword. Yeah, nobody here has done what Travis did running Uber - including all the shit (both proven and allegedly).

Re: Uber Board to Discuss CEO Absence, Policy Changes: Source

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's important to notice that what you are talking about is a zeitgeist change. In the time that Jobs was building organizations the consensus was that work (particularly work by engineers with options) was a voluntary contract and if you didn't like how you were being treated you moved to another job. The flip side to your point that no one articulates today is that some people with thicker skin like very ch…

a Jobs-ian company that makes them feel like they are part of a a group of with real intensity that is changing the world, and Apple surely did. Yeap, it sure did: We were reluctant to show it to Steve, knowing that he would want to commandeer it, but he heard about it from someone and demanded to see it. We showed it to him, and, unfortunately, he loved it. But he also insisted that Apple owned all the rights to it,…

[deleted]

Re: Uber Board to Discuss CEO Absence, Policy Changes: Source

#36
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say no because nobody, not even Sergei and Larry, not even the devil incarnate at the database company, not anyone in silicon valley has done what Travis and his team have done. I was never a fan of ubers because like Dropbox I thought it was too simplistic and too easily replaceable. I've become more wary of the anti uber propaganda lately. I'm more suspicious of the press than ever. When I read some news all I…

> How can a CEO/founder prevent a coup? Don't give people a reason to dislike you.

Or set up the stock plan in such a way that you're untouchable (e.g. Snapchat's Evan Spiegel).

Re: Uber Board to Discuss CEO Absence, Policy Changes: Source

#37
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What incompetence? This guy built $70B company from scratch in markets which had regulations and very active taxi unions lobbying against the very existence of the company. More importantly, Uber has helped improve the lives of hundreds of millions of commuters across the globe. What have you done lately which is anything close to what Travis built vs. just commenting on a tech forum at his incompetence? Also, it is…

> What have you done lately which is anything close to what Travis built vs. just commenting on a tech forum at his incompetence? It's true, I haven't condoned obtaining the confidential medical records of a rape victim by my direct report, ignored dozens of sexual harassment complaints by my employees, or attempted to suppress an HR complaint about me taking my managers to an escort bar in Korea. I am being delibera…

Indeed. Most of this thread comes across incredibly reductionist as if it were possible to categorize someone as good or evil. Surely Travis acts as an effective executive in some cases and a poor one in others. Context has deep importance in evaluating people.

Re: Uber Board to Discuss CEO Absence, Policy Changes: Source

#39
post #2

Something wrong about this: someone in power being held accoutable for their incompetence and bad behavior. Or did he just loose some rich people too much money?

What incompetence? This guy built $70B company from scratch in markets which had regulations and very active taxi unions lobbying against the very existence of the company. More importantly, Uber has helped improve the lives of hundreds of millions of commuters across the globe. What have you done lately which is anything close to what Travis built vs. just commenting on a tech forum at his incompetence? Also, it is…

Kalanick deserves respect, undoubtedly. If he is wise, he will also recognize that some compartmentalization or evolution in how he approaches the whole endeavor is a natural part of the growth of an entity entering a more stable and mature phase. You do not fight the same battles in the whole war.
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