Advice for Uber From Branson, Cuban and Others Getting a level of distance can do a world of good.
By Nina Zipkin
While Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is currently taking a leave of absence as the company rebuilds in the wake the crises ranging from sexual harassment allegations to legal battles with Google, several high profile voices have chimed in with what they think the 7-year-old business can to do improve in the future.
Read on for opinions from leaders such as Richard Branson and Chris Sacca about the state of affairs at Uber and the lessons you can apply to your own business.
Richard Branson: Recognize when to delegate.
"I think he should have put himself out of the business on a day-to-day basis years ago," Richard Branson said at the Accelerate-Her conference in London this week. "An entrepreneur is not a good manager of people, and Travis Kalanick is definitely not a good manager of people. He should have realised that long ago, and done what he was good at."
Related: What Does Uber Need to Do to Fix Its Battered Reputation?
Chris Sacca: Know when to ask for help.
"For the first time he's acknowledging the places he could use help and starting to take responsibility for his broader role," Uber investor Chris Sacca said in May at the Collision Conference in New Orleans. "I think that the company is redeemable and that the culture is fixable."
Arianna Huffington: Understand when to take a break.
"It's one of the delusions that drives modern workplaces, especially here in the Valley -- that burnout is necessary for growth and success," Uber board member and Thrive Global founder Arianna Huffington said in a statement to The Washington Post. "That's why it's important to lose "always on' and "working longer' from the cultural values, especially given that we now have the data that proves conclusively that being always on and working longer … lead to terrible consequences."
Related: Uber Needs to Recreate its Company Culture. Here's What You Can Learn From Its Mistakes.
Kenneth Lerer: Don't be afraid to throw things out and start over.
"Uber got to where it is because of its culture. But Uber can't continue to grow and flourish if it continues with its same culture," venture capitalist Kenneth Lerer told The Washington Post. "If you take the culture out of Uber, might it not succeed? Only time will tell.
Mark Cuban: Don't double down when you're wrong.
"Travis's biggest strength is that he will run through a wall to accomplish his goals," Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban told The New York Times earlier this spring. "Travis's biggest weakness is that he will run through a wall to accomplish his goals. That's the best way to describe him."
