by Isaac, Mike
Chapter 22: “ONE VERY, VERY STRANGE YEAR AT UBER . . .”
21385 percent of Uber engineers were men: Johana Bhuiyan, “Uber has Published Its Much Sought After Diversity Numbers For the First Time,” Recode, March 28, 2017, https://www.recode.net/2017/3/28/15087184/uber-diversity-numbers-first-three-million.
213Like sailing “over the moon”: Maureen Dowd, “She’s 26, and Brought Down Uber’s C.E.O. What’s Next?,” New York Times, October 21, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/style/susan-fowler-uber.html.
215“I don’t use Uber”: Dowd, “She’s 26, and Brought Down Uber’s C.E.O.”
215“SREs worked to keep the service online”: Chris Adams, “How Uber Thinks About Site Reliability Engineering,” Uber Engineering, March 3, 2016, https://eng.uber.com/sre-talks-feb-2016/.
217Performance reviews were little more: Megan Rose Dickey, “Inside Uber’s New Approach to Employee Performance Reviews,” TechCrunch, https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/01/inside-ubers-new-approach-to-employee-performance-reviews/.
219losing upwards of $9,000 per vehicle: Greg Bensinger, “Uber Shutting Down U.S. Car-Leasing Business,” Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2017, https://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-confirms-it-is-shutting-down-u-s-car-leasing-business-1506531990.
219“probably just an innocent mistake”: Fowler, “Reflecting On One Very, Very Strange Year at Uber.”
220recalled a director boasting: Fowler, “Reflecting On One Very, Very Strange Year at Uber.”
220“complete, unrelenting chaos”: Fowler, “Reflecting On One Very, Very Strange Year at Uber.”
221“If we women really wanted equality”: Fowler, “Reflecting On One Very, Very Strange Year at Uber.”
Chapter 23: . . . THE HARDER THEY FALL
223“This is outrageous and awful”: Chris Messina (@chrismessina), “This is outrageous and awful. My experience with Uber HR was similarly callous & unsupportive; in Susan’s case, it was reprehensible. [angry face and thumbs-down emojis],” Twitter, February 19, 2017, 6:44 p.m., https://twitter.com/chrismessina/status/833462385872498688.
227“@travisk showing me his super cool app”: Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff), “@travisk showing me his super cool app, Uber: everyone’s private driver uber.com,” Twitter, May 30, 2012, 3:23 p.m., https://twitter.com/ariannahuff/status/207915187846656001.
228an unfaithful journalist: Vanessa Grigoriadis, “Maharishi Arianna,” New York, November 20, 2011, http://nymag.com/news/media/arianna-huffington-2011-11.
228a warm, intelligent woman: Lauren Collins, “The Oracle: The Many Lives of Arianna Huffington,” New Yorker, October 13, 2008, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/10/13/the-oracle-lauren-collins.
228“Your dowry is your education”: Collins, “The Oracle.”
229“a kind of liberal foil”: Collins, “The Oracle.”
230“a unified theory of Arianna”: Meghan O’Rourke, “The Accidental Feminist,” Slate, September 22, 2006, https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2006/09/arianna-huffington-the-accidental-feminist.html.
230“There are two schools of thought”: Maureen Orth, “Arianna’s Virtual Candidate,” Vanity Fair, November 1, 1994, https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/1994/11/huffington-199411.
230Her political career: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/1994/11/huffington-199411.
Chapter 24: NO ONE STEALS FROM LARRY PAGE
232first consumer-ready version: John Markoff, “No Longer a Dream: Silicon Valley Takes on the Flying Car,” New York Times, April 24, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/24/technology/flying-car-technology.html.
233“a new way forward in mobility”: Daisuke Wakabayashi, “Google Parent Company Spins Off Self-Driving Car Business,” New York Times, December 13, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/technology/google-parent-company-spins-off-waymo-self-driving-car-business.html.
233suing him months ago: Biz Carson, “Google Secretly Sought Arbitration Against Its Former Self-Driving Guru Months Before the Uber Lawsuit,” Business Insider, March 29, 2017, https://www.businessinsider.com/google-filed-against-anthony-levandowski-in-arbitration-before-uber-lawsuit-2017-3.
233old Google workplace accounts: Waymo LLC v. Uber Technologies.
234downloaded proprietary information: Waymo LLC v. Uber Technologies.
234“Otto and Uber have taken”: Daisuke Wakabayashi and Mike Isaac, “Google Self-Driving Car Unit Accuses Uber of Using Stolen Technology,” New York Times, February 23, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/23/technology/google-self-driving-waymo-uber-otto-lawsuit.html.
236Kalanick had announced his hire: Mike Isaac and Daisuke Wakabayashi, “Uber Hires Google’s Former Head of Search, Stoking a Rivalry,” New York Times, January 20, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/technology/uber-amit-singhal-google.html?module=inline.
236Singhal was pushed out of Google: Mike Isaac and Daisuke Wakabayashi, “Amit Singhal, Uber Executive Linked to Old Harassment Claim, Resigns,” New York Times, February 27, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/technology/uber-sexual-harassment-amit-singhal-resign.html.
237they had just posted a story: Eric Newcomer, “In Video, Uber CEO Argues with Driver Over Falling Fares,” Bloomberg, February 28, 2017, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-28/in-video-uber-ceo-argues-with-driver-over-falling-fares.
238“This is bad”: Eric Newcomer and Brad Stone, “The Fall of Travis Kalanick Was a Lot Weirder and Darker Than You Thought,” Bloomberg Businessweek, January 18, 2018, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-01-18/the-fall-of-travis-kalanick-was-a-lot-weirder-and-darker-than-you-thought.
240“I want to profoundly apologize”: Travis Kalanick, “A Profound Apology,” Uber Newsroom, March 1, 2017, https://www.uber.com/newsroom/a-profound-apology.
Chapter 25: GREYBALL
241“my name is Bob”: I’ve changed my source’s name and any specific details about their identity to protect their anonymity.
241A few days prior: Mike Isaac, “Insider Uber’s Aggressive, Unrestrained Workplace Culture,” New York Times, February 22, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/technology/uber-workplace-culture.html.
243“Keep your Uber phone off”: Email redacted for source protection.
243“have a wonderful day!”: Documents held by author.
243As we watched the video: The Oregonian, “Portland vs. Uber: City Code Officers Try to Ticket Drivers,” YouTube video, December 5, 2014, 1:53, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS0NuV-zLZE.
244“We will impound the vehicle”: Victor Fiorillo, “Uber Launches UberX In Philadelphia, but PPA Says ‘Not So Fast,’ ” Philadelphia, October 25, 2014, https://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/10/25/uber-launches-uberx-philadelphia/.
244“UBERX: REMINDER”: Documents held by author.
245a behavior engineers called “eyeballing”: Mike Isaac, “How Uber Deceives the Authorities Worldwide,” New York Times, March 3, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/technology/uber-greyball-program-evade-authorities.html.
247“Uber has for years used”: Isaac, “How Uber Deceives the Authorities Worldwide.”
247Uber’s security chief, prohibited employees: Daisuke Wakabayashi, “Uber Seeks to Prevent Use of Greyball to Thwart Regulators,” New York Times, March 8, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/business/uber-regulators-police-greyball.html.
247Department of Justice opened a probe: Mike Isaac, “Uber Faces Federal Inquiry Over Use of Greyball Tool to Evade Authorities,” New York Times, May 4, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/04/technology/uber-federal-inquiry-software-greyball.html.
247the inquiry widened to Philadelphia: Mike Isaac, “Justice Department Expands Its Inquiry into Uber’s Greyball Tool,” New York Times, May 5, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/05/technology/uber-greyball-investigation-expands.html.
248He called it The Rides
hare Guy: Harry Campbell, “About the Rideshare Guy: Harry Campbell,” The Rideshare Guy (blog), https://therideshareguy.com/about-the-rideshare-guy/.
248directly due to the string of controversies: Kara Swisher and Johana Bhuiyan, “Uber President Jeff Jones Is Quitting, Citing Differences Over ‘Beliefs and Approach to Leadership,’ ” Recode, March 19, 2017, https://www.recode.net/2017/3/19/14976110/uber-president-jeff-jones-quits.
250“there’s just a bunch of models”: Emily Peck, “Travis Kalanick’s Ex Reveals New Details About Uber’s Sexist Culture,” Huffington Post, March 29, 2017, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/travis-kalanick-gabi-holzwarth-uber_us_58da7341e4b018c4606b8ec9.
253“I am so sorry for being cold”: Amir Efrati, “Uber Group’s Visit to Seoul Escort Bar Sparked HR Complaint,” The Information, March 24, 2017, https://www.theinformation.com/articles/uber-groups-visit-to-seoul-escort-bar-sparked-hr-complaint.
253reporter’s cell phone number: Efrati, “Uber Group’s Visit to Seoul Escort Bar.”
Chapter 26: FATAL ERRORS
254who called the maneuver illegal: Mike Isaac, “Uber Expands Self-Driving Car Service to San Francisco. D.M.V. Says It’s Illegal.,” New York Times, December 14, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/technology/uber-self-driving-car-san-francisco.html.
254Uber issued a statement: Isaac, “Uber Expands Self-Driving Car Service to San Francisco.”
255Uber’s narrative was false: Mike Isaac and Daisuke Wakabayashi, “A Lawsuit Against Uber Highlights the Rush to Conquer Driverless Cars,” New York Times, February 24, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/24/technology/anthony-levandowski-waymo-uber-google-lawsuit.html.
255Levandowski was unceremoniously terminated: Mike Isaac and Daisuke Wakabayashi, “Uber Fires Former Google Engineer at Heart of Self-Driving Dispute,” New York Times, May 30, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/30/technology/uber-anthony-levandowski.html.
256“possible theft of trade secrets”: Aarian Marshall, “Google’s Fight Against Uber Takes a Turn for the Criminal,” Wired, May 12, 2017, https://www.wired.com/2017/05/googles-fight-uber-takes-turn-criminal/.
256expressed contrition in a press interview: Mike Isaac, “Uber Releases Diversity Report and Repudiates Its ‘Hard-Charging Attitude,’ ” New York Times, March 28, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/28/technology/uber-scandal-diversity-report.html.
257existence of Uber’s program “Hell”: Efrati, “Uber’s Top Secret ‘Hell’ Program.”
257The team kept tabs: Kate Conger, “Uber’s Massive Scraping Program Collected Data About Competitors Around the World,” Gizmodo, December 11, 2017, https://gizmodo.com/ubers-massive-scraping-program-collected-data-about-com-1820887947.
257recorded private conversations: Paayal Zaveri, “Unsealed Letter in Uber-Waymo Case Details How Uber Employees Allegedly Stole Trade Secrets,” CNBC, December 15, 2017, https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/15/jacobs-letter-in-uber-waymo-case-says-uber-staff-stole-trade-secrets.html.
261personal, private medical files: Kara Swisher and Johana Bhuiyan, “A Top Uber Executive, Who Obtained the Medical Records of a Customer Who Was a Rape Victim, Has Been Fired,” Recode, June 7, 2017, https://www.recode.net/2017/6/7/15754316/uber-executive-india-assault-rape-medical-records.
262it was over for Eric Alexander: Mike Isaac, “Uber Fires Executive Over Handling of Rape Investigation in India,” New York Times, June 7, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/technology/uber-fires-executive.html.
262Kalanick accepted her resignation: Mike Isaac, “Executive Who Steered Uber Through Scandals Joins Exodus,” New York Times, April 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/technology/ubers-head-of-policy-and-communications-joins-executive-exodus.html.
263“The last note I got from her”: Kalanick, “Dad is getting much better in last 48 hours.”
265“Over the last seven years”: Unpublished letter, obtained by author. The original letter is over 4,000 words long.
Chapter 27: THE HOLDER REPORT
269already fired twenty people: Mike Isaac, “Uber Fires 20 Amid Investigation into Workplace Culture,” New York Times, June 6, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/06/technology/uber-fired.html.
270“He definitely has my confidence”: Anita Balakrishnan, “Uber Board Member Arianna Huffington Says She’s Been Emailing Ex-Engineer About Harassment Claims,” CNBC, March 3, 2017, https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/03/arianna-huffington-travis-kalanick-confidence-emailing-susan-fowler.html.
273“Uber has a long way to go”: Emil Michael, “Email from Departing Uber Executive,” New York Times, June 12, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/12/technology/document-Email-From-Departing-Uber-Executive.html.
274“For the last eight years”: Entrepreneur Staff, “Read Travis Kalanick’s Full Letter to Staff: I Need to Work on Travis 2.0,” Entrepreneur, June 13, 2017, https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/295780.
278Bonderman was a shuffling giant: Henny Sender, “Breakfast with the FT: David Bonderman,” Financial Times, June 20, 2008, https://www.ft.com/content/569a70ae-3e64-11dd-b16d-0000779fd2ac.
278239th richest man in the world: “#667 David Bonderman,” Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/profile/david-bonderman/#27d33dd32fce.
280the entire contents of the presentation: JP Mangalindan, “LEAKED AUDIO: Uber’s All-Hands Meeting Had Some Uncomfortable Moments,” Yahoo! Finance, June 13, 2017, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/inside-ubers-hands-meeting-travis-194232221.html.
280“Today at Uber’s all-hands meeting”: Comment received in email to author, June 13, 2017.
Chapter 28: THE SYNDICATE
284“we have hit a dead end”: Mitch and Freada Kapor, “An Open Letter to The Uber Board and Investors,” Medium, February 23, 2017, https://medium.com/kapor-the-bridge/an-open-letter-to-the-uber-board-and-investors-2dc0c48c3a7.
285Lake was sexually harassed: Dan Primack, “How Lightspeed Responded to Caldbeck’s Alleged Behavior,” Axios, June 27, 2017, https://www.axios.com/how-lightspeed-responded-to-caldbecks-alleged-behavior-1513303291-797b3d44-6b7d-4cd1-89ef-7e35782a32e6.html.
287through an internal repurchase program: Katie Benner, “How Uber’s Chief Is Gaining Even More Clout in the Company,” New York Times, June 12, 2017 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/technology/uber-chief-travis-kalanick-stock-buyback.html.
288the two rarely spoke afterwards: Alex Konrad, “How Super Angel Chris Sacca Made Billions, Burned Bridges and Crafted the Best Seed Portfolio Ever,” Forbes, April 13, 2015, https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2015/03/25/how-venture-cowboy-chris-sacca-made-billions/#17b4e9866597.
Chapter 29: REVENGE OF THE VENTURE CAPITALISTS
297eighteen months in the making: Lori Rackl, “Get A First Look at the ‘New’ Ritz-Carlton Chicago, $100 Million Later,” Chicago Tribune, July 19, 2017, https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/ct-ritz-carlton-chicago-renovation-travel-0730-20170718-story.html.
303she claimed on live television: Sara Ashley O’Brien, “Arianna Huffington: Sexual Harassment Isn’t a ‘Systemic Problem,’ At Uber,” CNN Business, March 23, 2017, https://money.cnn.com/2017/03/20/technology/arianna-huffington-uber-quest-means-business/index.html.
306Seeing the tick-tock of events: Mike Isaac, “Inside Travis Kalanick’s Resignation as Uber’s C.E.O.,” New York Times, June 21, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/technology/uber-travis-kalanick-final-hours.html.
Chapter 30: DOWN BUT NOT OUT
309“Dear Board of Directors”: Letter obtained by author.
313story was about to be published: Eric Newcomer, “Uber’s New CEO Short List Is Said to Include HPE’s Meg Whitman,” Bloomberg, July 25, 2017, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-25/uber-s-new-ceo-short-list-is-said-to-include-hpe-s-meg-whitman.
314a top candidate for Uber CEO: Eric Newcomer, “GE’s Jeffrey Immelt Is on Uber’s CEO Short
list,” Bloomberg, July 27, 2017, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-27/ge-s-jeffrey-immelt-is-said-to-be-on-uber-ceo-shortlist.
314Kalanick . . . pushing Immelt: Mike Isaac, “Uber’s Search for New C.E.O. Hampered by Deep Split on Board,” New York Times, July 30, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/30/technology/uber-search-for-new-ceo-kalanick-huffington-whitman.html.
314three brief tweets to the world: Mike Isaac, “Uber’s Next C.E.O.? Meg Whitman Says It Won’t Be Her,” New York Times, July 27, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/technology/ubers-next-ceo-meg-whitman-says-it-wont-be-her.html.
314“Normally I do not comment”: Meg Whitman (@MegWhitman), “(1/3) Normally I do not comment on rumors, but the speculation about my future and Uber has become a distraction.,” Twitter, July 27, 2017, 10:04 p.m., https://twitter.com/megwhitman/status/890754773456220161.
314“So let me make this as clear”: Meg Whitman (@MegWhitman), “(2/3) So let me make this as clear as I can. I am fully committed to HPE and plan to remain the company’s CEO.,” Twitter, July 27, 2017, 10:04 p.m., https://twitter.com/MegWhitman/status/890754854632787969.
314“Uber’s CEO will not be Meg Whitman”: Meg Whitman (@MegWhitman), “(3/3) We have a lot of work still to do at HPE and I am not going anywhere. Uber’s CEO will not be Meg Whitman.” Twitter, July 27, 2017, 10:05 p.m., https://twitter.com/megwhitman/status/890754932990763008.
315the firm filed a lawsuit: Mike Isaac, “Uber Investor Sues Travis Kalanick for Fraud,” New York Times, August 10, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/10/technology/travis-kalanick-uber-lawsuit-benchmark-capital.html.
315“We do not feel it was either prudent”: Mike Isaac, “Kalanick Loyalists Move to Force Benchmark Off Uber’s Board,” New York Times, August 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/11/technology/uber-benchmark-pishevar.html.