Dara Khosrowshahi

So the next day I called the headhunter back and I said, let's talk. And the next step was for me to meet a board member and we had dinner and he was very charming and he kind of started the recruitment. It was pretty cool.

So the next day I called the headhunter back and I said, let's talk. And the next step was for me to meet a board member and we had dinner and he was very charming and he kind of started the recruitment. It was pretty cool.

God, I think it was about two months. It was over the summer. Wow. How do you keep it secret? Nobody knew. I told them, I said, listen, up front, I have a job and it's a great job. So the nanosecond that my name shows up in the news, I'm out of here. So I just want you to know, the nanosecond it shows up in the news, I'm out of here. But I had to be realistic that it could show up in the news.

God, I think it was about two months. It was over the summer. Wow. How do you keep it secret? Nobody knew. I told them, I said, listen, up front, I have a job and it's a great job. So the nanosecond that my name shows up in the news, I'm out of here. So I just want you to know, the nanosecond it shows up in the news, I'm out of here. But I had to be realistic that it could show up in the news.

It's amazing that it didn't. So actually, at that point, I called up Barry. because I couldn't put Barry in a situation or myself in a situation. I've worked with him 13 years, probably 20 years at IEC, and then even before as a banker. He and I have an incredible relationship. I owe so much to him.

It's amazing that it didn't. So actually, at that point, I called up Barry. because I couldn't put Barry in a situation or myself in a situation. I've worked with him 13 years, probably 20 years at IEC, and then even before as a banker. He and I have an incredible relationship. I owe so much to him.

I couldn't take the risk of his seeing it in the press and the consequences of that and the loss of trust. So I called him up. I said, Barry, head on and call me about Uber. I'm going to talk to them. And he's like, you're effing crazy, hung up on me. I told Seth, like, oh, my God, I'm going to get fired. And nothing. Dead silence.

I couldn't take the risk of his seeing it in the press and the consequences of that and the loss of trust. So I called him up. I said, Barry, head on and call me about Uber. I'm going to talk to them. And he's like, you're effing crazy, hung up on me. I told Seth, like, oh, my God, I'm going to get fired. And nothing. Dead silence.

He wasn't going to. He could. Maybe he would. I didn't know. We worked together for a long time. Call him the next day. He said... Speaking as the chairman of Expedia, it would be a real mistake. But speaking as a friend, I understand why you're interested. I would be too. How can I help? And that's the definition of who he is. Because we weren't in the news, it was like we gossip about it.

He wasn't going to. He could. Maybe he would. I didn't know. We worked together for a long time. Call him the next day. He said... Speaking as the chairman of Expedia, it would be a real mistake. But speaking as a friend, I understand why you're interested. I would be too. How can I help? And that's the definition of who he is. Because we weren't in the news, it was like we gossip about it.

It's like, oh, did you hear Meg is this? And so it was a fun thing that we gossiped about. But he actually, there was a point in time when I had to make a presentation to the Uber board. This was like my big presentation. And I heard that the other candidates were coming in to present as well. So this was a big day.

It's like, oh, did you hear Meg is this? And so it was a fun thing that we gossiped about. But he actually, there was a point in time when I had to make a presentation to the Uber board. This was like my big presentation. And I heard that the other candidates were coming in to present as well. So this was a big day.

And I told him, I think it was a Saturday or Sunday, that I'm coming in, making a presentation. He's like, show me the presentation. It was PowerPoint. So I showed him PowerPoint. And he actually helped me in the PowerPoint. He's like, this is good, this is good. You have to add this page. So it shows you the kind of person he is, which is...

And I told him, I think it was a Saturday or Sunday, that I'm coming in, making a presentation. He's like, show me the presentation. It was PowerPoint. So I showed him PowerPoint. And he actually helped me in the PowerPoint. He's like, this is good, this is good. You have to add this page. So it shows you the kind of person he is, which is...

He put friendship in that case over his own business interests. Maybe it was sick of me. I don't know. But it was calculated. Yeah, it just shows you that that is true personal loyalty.

He put friendship in that case over his own business interests. Maybe it was sick of me. I don't know. But it was calculated. Yeah, it just shows you that that is true personal loyalty.

Yes. And I still am on the board. It's, you know, I love the company, but it's weird being on the board as a former CEO. Like it's, it's a strange experience. Did you do anything to prepare for that? No. Like usually my life, it's like stumble into something and then figure it out.

Yes. And I still am on the board. It's, you know, I love the company, but it's weird being on the board as a former CEO. Like it's, it's a strange experience. Did you do anything to prepare for that? No. Like usually my life, it's like stumble into something and then figure it out.

Yeah. But it was, I wanted to stay on the board. I wanted to help and You know, the company's going through its own journey now. So hopefully to greatness.

Yeah. But it was, I wanted to stay on the board. I wanted to help and You know, the company's going through its own journey now. So hopefully to greatness.