Show notes
This week, Jessica sits down with Jerry Golden, Chief Policy Officer at Lyft, for a wide-ranging conversation about how great leaders scale their influence by building teams that multiply results rather than simply adding to them. Drawing on his experience operating at the intersection of government, technology, and community stakeholders, Jerry shares why the most valuable leadership skill is not being the smartest person in the room, but connecting the right people, ideas, and priorities to move complex work forward.
Jerry explains the reality of serving as a translator between fundamentally different worlds, fast-moving tech organizations and slow-moving policy environments, and why credibility, active listening, and shared purpose are the only path to lasting alignment. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at how rideshare policy is shaped, how Lyft approaches expansion into new global markets, and why the future of mobility will be a hybrid of human drivers, autonomous technology, and new access models designed for underserved populations.
The conversation also explores the human side of leadership: gratitude as a daily practice, generosity as a performance advantage, and the responsibility leaders have to create environments where candor and mutual growth are possible. Jerry reflects on social impact initiatives like Lyft Up, the role of transportation in unlocking economic opportunity, and why maintaining independence and flexibility is essential for both drivers and riders in a changing economy.
About Jerry Golden
Jerry is an accomplished policy leader with a history of using technology to bring people together. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Public Policy & Government Affairs at Eventbrite, where he led advocacy efforts, and co-chaired Fix the Tix, a ticketing reform coalition of artists, venues, marketplaces, and organized labor. Prior to Eventbrite, Jerry held government affairs roles in the tech, insurance, and financial services industries, including roles at the Internet Association, Vanguard, Nationwide Insurance, the American Council of Life Insurers, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
He serves on the board of Internet Works, a trade association committed to fostering online innovation, and also serves on the steering committee of the Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness. Jerry lives in Washington, D.C., and will represent Lyft at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrygolden1/
Website: https://www.lyft.com/
Host: Jessica Kriegel
Website: jessicakriegel.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessicakriegel
Instagram: @jess_kriegel
Culture Partners
Website: culturepartners.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/culturepartners