Anand Mahindra makes a confession after meeting Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi for second time

Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra recently met Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi during the latter's visit to India. Mahindra shared his thoughts on their meeting on X (formerly Twitter), recalling their initial encounter at Davos a few years ago. At that time, Mahindra said he had harbored doubts about Khosrowshahi's tenure at Uber and the company's longevity. Reflecting on their conversation, Mahindra stated, "I must confess that I wondered how long he would stay at the company & indeed, how long Uber would survive."

However, Mahindra acknowledged the significant transformation that Khosrowshahi has led within Uber since then. He commended Khosrowshahi for steering the company towards profitability and cultivating a corporate culture focused on discipline and efficiency. Mahindra noted that Uber's market capitalization has soared to around $170 billion, illustrating the success of Khosrowshahi's leadership. Mahindra expressed his pleasure at reconnecting with Khosrowshahi, whom he described as having the "Midas Touch."

In response to Mahindra's post, Khosrowshahi expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet Mahindra again. He praised Mahindra's leadership style, emphasizing the importance of values and purpose in driving success. Khosrowshahi attributed the accomplishments to the entire team at Uber, highlighting their collective effort in achieving milestones.


"As you know, the leader gets the credit but it’s the team who really gets it done!" said Khosrowshahi in reply.


Uber Technologies recently announced its plans to repurchase up to $7 billion worth of company shares, marking its first-ever share buyback initiative. This decision follows a robust recovery in the ride-share segment and strong demand for its food delivery services. With the ride-hailing firm projected growth in gross bookings and adjusted core profit over the next three years, investor confidence in Uber has surged.

Thomas Hayes, chairman of hedge fund Great Hill Capital, lauded Uber's performance, attributing the decision to return capital to shareholders to the company's operational excellence under Khosrowshahi's leadership. Despite facing challenges during the pandemic, Uber has experienced significant growth as mobility restrictions eased and demand for its services rebounded.

Dara Khosrowshahi assumed leadership of Uber in 2017 during a challenging period in the company's history. The previous CEO, Travis Kalanick, resigned amidst pressure, and Uber faced a series of scandals, including allegations of sexual harassment, a Department of Justice inquiry into its practices, and a legal dispute over intellectual property with a competitor in the self-driving car sector.

Also read: Indians are extremely demanding, but are not willing to pay for anything: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi

Meet Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi

Since 2017, Dara Khosrowshahi has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Uber, overseeing the company's operations across over 70 countries globally. Prior to joining Uber, Dara held the position of CEO at Expedia, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the company into one of the largest online travel firms worldwide. With a diverse background in engineering and finance, Dara spearheaded numerous acquisitions to enhance Expedia's services and made significant investments in mobile technology, which now drives over half of Expedia's traffic. Raised in Tarrytown, New York, Dara obtained his bachelor's degree in engineering from Brown University.