Dara Khosrowshahi

So we got together as a team, the IAC team, and all of us were kind of talking. And, you know, there's no clear decision to be made there. But Barry respected what Rich asked for. And I remember the meeting, we're like having all these debates. And I think it was Barry who said it. He said, you know, if there isn't travel, there isn't life. So like, you know, everyone like looked at each other.

So we got together as a team, the IAC team, and all of us were kind of talking. And, you know, there's no clear decision to be made there. But Barry respected what Rich asked for. And I remember the meeting, we're like having all these debates. And I think it was Barry who said it. He said, you know, if there isn't travel, there isn't life. So like, you know, everyone like looked at each other.

We're like, let's go for this. Let's do it. And right after that meeting, Barry called Rich and said, game on.

We're like, let's go for this. Let's do it. And right after that meeting, Barry called Rich and said, game on.

It's like, we're going to do this. But Barry, his passion is travel, right? And I think he was right, which is just when you're in the center of the storm, it looks like, oh my God, life is going to be over. But things revert to norm. I mean, you look at like the pandemic and everyone's looking for all these long-term changes and everything reverts to norm.

It's like, we're going to do this. But Barry, his passion is travel, right? And I think he was right, which is just when you're in the center of the storm, it looks like, oh my God, life is going to be over. But things revert to norm. I mean, you look at like the pandemic and everyone's looking for all these long-term changes and everything reverts to norm.

And I think that was the wisdom at the time, although when you're in the middle of... It sure doesn't feel calm. But after that, we said we're in. It got Rich the stability that he wanted. And in hindsight, it was a genius decision.

And I think that was the wisdom at the time, although when you're in the middle of... It sure doesn't feel calm. But after that, we said we're in. It got Rich the stability that he wanted. And in hindsight, it was a genius decision.

No, and I like this one to be finally the last one. Never want to go through something like that again. But it made us strong as a company. Ultimately, good for Uber the past couple of years. Yeah, I think the pandemic was incredibly painful in that sitting together as a team, 85% of your mobility volume, which was the profit driver of the company, falls off a cliff. And...

No, and I like this one to be finally the last one. Never want to go through something like that again. But it made us strong as a company. Ultimately, good for Uber the past couple of years. Yeah, I think the pandemic was incredibly painful in that sitting together as a team, 85% of your mobility volume, which was the profit driver of the company, falls off a cliff. And...

Other CEOs, you know, they lost a ton of business, but most of these businesses were profitable. We were losing $2.5 billion, and then it just got way worse. So it was a very tough situation to be in, and we had to cut a lot of overhead. We had to cut out businesses that we thought were core to the business. You really had to bet on what's core, what's non-core.

Other CEOs, you know, they lost a ton of business, but most of these businesses were profitable. We were losing $2.5 billion, and then it just got way worse. So it was a very tough situation to be in, and we had to cut a lot of overhead. We had to cut out businesses that we thought were core to the business. You really had to bet on what's core, what's non-core.

But it was a huge accelerator as it relates to our Eats delivery business. And I think that discipline in hindsight has been great. But I wouldn't want that as that shouldn't have been the precipitating factor. All right.

But it was a huge accelerator as it relates to our Eats delivery business. And I think that discipline in hindsight has been great. But I wouldn't want that as that shouldn't have been the precipitating factor. All right.

So I met Barry Diller when I was an analyst at Allen & Company, which was my first job out of college. It's an investment bank in New York City, specializes in the media and entertainment sector. Now, much more tech. They've made the pretty cool transition. And I was a lowly analyst.

So I met Barry Diller when I was an analyst at Allen & Company, which was my first job out of college. It's an investment bank in New York City, specializes in the media and entertainment sector. Now, much more tech. They've made the pretty cool transition. And I was a lowly analyst.

And I got assigned to this deal where Barry Diller, who at the time was running QVC, he was the CEO of QVC, which was home shopping.

And I got assigned to this deal where Barry Diller, who at the time was running QVC, he was the CEO of QVC, which was home shopping.

Yes, correct. Paramount first, and then he ran Fox for Murdoch. And then he decided he wanted to be his own boss. And at some point, John Malone, I think, had control of QVC. And Barry got the job to run QVC and have control because he wanted to be his own boss. And who can blame him for that?

Yes, correct. Paramount first, and then he ran Fox for Murdoch. And then he decided he wanted to be his own boss. And at some point, John Malone, I think, had control of QVC. And Barry got the job to run QVC and have control because he wanted to be his own boss. And who can blame him for that?