Why did you leave Uber?

It’s been almost seven years, and I still get asked this. 

Maybe because everything after Uber worked out so well.

It’s a great question the kind that makes you pause, take a breath, and really think. Because leaving at your peak isn’t the obvious move.

Uber was a rocket ship. I was one of the first in MENA, launching city after city, moving millions of people, and onboarding hundreds of thousands of drivers. It was fast, chaotic, and relentless. Everything was on fire, all the time.

There was a point where I could land in a city, turn on Uber, and within hours, I’d be in a car with a driver who had no idea I worked at Uber, telling me how I should use Uber more. That’s when I knew we had won.

Most people left after a year or two — I stayed for nearly five years (basically an eternity in Uber time). I saw the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

So why leave?

Because after five years of hypergrowth, I had seen every kind of problem, solved them at scale, and built something massive. I had pressed every button. It was time to press reset and build again.

Sometimes the best decision you can make is to press reset.

Uber was one of the best experiences of my life. But growth isn’t about holding on to the past — it’s about building what’s next. And that’s exactly what I did.

3 Things I’ve Learned from Managing at Global Startups

Managing a startup team is different from any other job. Everything moves fast. You don’t have enough resources. You’re making big decisions with limited information.

Most people get it wrong. They try to control too much, move too slowly, and focus on the wrong things.

After years of working at global startups, here are the three things that actually matter when leading a team.

1. Hire Great People, Then Get Out of Their Way

Most management problems disappear if you hire the right people.

  • The best people don’t need micromanagement. They need clear goals and freedom to execute.
  • If you have to constantly check someone’s work, you made a bad hire.
  • The fastest teams run on trust, not control.

Your job as a leader isn’t to do everything—it’s to find people who can do it better than you and give them the space to win.

2. Speed Matters More Than Perfection

Startups fail because they move too slow, not because they make mistakes.

  • 80% right today beats 100% right next year.
  • The best teams ship fast, learn, and adjust.
  • Indecision kills momentum.

If you wait until everything is perfect, you’re already too late. Launch, get feedback, improve. Repeat.

3. Your Network Is Your Safety Net

The most successful people I know all have strong networks.

  • Your skills matter, but who trusts you matters more.
  • Careers are unpredictable—layoffs, market shifts, failed startups happen. Your network gets you back on your feet fast.
  • The best leaders invest in relationships before they need them.

Every job, every deal, every opportunity comes down to who picks up your call when you need it.

What’s the best leadership lesson you’ve learned? 🚀