Shifting Uber’s Narrative from Crisis to Safety

This interview is a part of our newest Ladies and Management particular report, which highlights ladies making important contributions to the key tales unfolding on the planet right now. The dialog has been edited and condensed.

Jill Hazelbaker, 40, a former political spokeswoman, is the senior vp of promoting and public affairs for Uber.

You joined Uber in 2015 when it was beneath scrutiny for a office tradition the place sexual harassment towards ladies and discrimination had been mentioned to be widespread. Did that issue into the discharge of Uber’s first Security Report in 2019 addressing incidents of sexual assaults and different questions of safety on rides?

There is no such thing as a query that issues occurred within the firm that weren’t OK. We wanted to get our home so as internally after which repair it externally. I took it as a chance to attempt to make a profound impression.

Are you able to clarify the report’s methodology?

We examined knowledge from 2017 and 2018, when a mean of three.1 million journeys passed off day by day within the U.S. We checked out severe security incidents reported on the platform from riders and drivers, together with important crashes, sexual assaults and bodily assaults. And we additionally collaborated with outdoors specialists and third-party organizations.

The report revealed that Uber is protected, and statistically talking, incidents are uncommon: 99.9 % of Uber journeys ended with none safety-related subject, and 0.0003 % of journeys had a report of a important security incident.

However even one incident is just too many, so it was about what new approaches we might take.

And what had been a few of these approaches?

One of many huge points is confirming who your driver is, so Confirm Your Journey permits riders to confirm every experience with a four-digit PIN that they verbally present to their driver, who should enter it into their very own app as a way to begin the journey. We even have an In App Emergency Button that connects riders and drivers to 911. In some cities, journey particulars and placement will be shared routinely with first responders, or riders and drivers can ship a textual content message to 911.

One other function is Share My Journey, the place riders and drivers can share with relations or associates who can observe their journey in actual time and know after they’ve arrived.

You will have mentioned that you’re going to replace the report. Are you able to be extra particular about when?

We’ve dedicated to releasing Security Reviews each two years. We depend on knowledge from the federal authorities, which has been delayed however is anticipated to be launched quickly. As soon as that knowledge is launched, we’ll finalize and subject our subsequent report, possible this spring.

You additionally mentioned you’ll search a option to share the names of drivers who had been accused of rape with opponents, in order that they don’t merely transfer to a different hailing service.

Sure, because the report was launched, we launched the Business Sharing Security Program. This permits corporations to trade fundamental details about drivers and supply individuals who have been deactivated for severe security incidents to assist stop these people from working on one other platform.

You’ve steered Uber by means of progress, difficult moments and one of many largest tech preliminary public choices in historical past (in Might 2019). What’s the greatest problem you see for Uber?

I believe a significant problem and alternative is to meaningfully enhance the established order for individuals who work on platforms like ours. Immediately, Uber is among the largest sources of labor — of any variety — on the planet. From 2016 to 2021, greater than 31 million individuals earned $177 billion on Uber, drawn by the independence and suppleness of the work.

That form of flexibility is one thing extra individuals have come to understand through the pandemic, however drivers and couriers have all the time understood that being impartial shouldn’t imply being by yourself. That’s why our coverage groups the world over are combating for a greater deal for gig economic system staff; you may nonetheless be impartial, however you additionally get advantages and protections.

We’ve made a whole lot of progress, but it surely’s going to take time. In the end, I consider we’ll succeed as a result of it’s what the drivers and supply individuals themselves inform us that they need.

How essential are Uber Eats and Uber’s different companies?

Pre-pandemic, our supply enterprise was rising at a wholesome charge however was nonetheless very a lot the “little sibling” to our mobility enterprise. As Covid hit, and folks stopped transferring round their cities, we actually leaned in, and Uber Eats grew to become even bigger than our international mobility enterprise was earlier than the pandemic started. Now we’re leaning in once more to rework supply into different classes akin to grocery, comfort, alcohol, pharmacy and extra.

Earlier than Uber, you had a profession in politics through which you served because the press secretary to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York and because the nationwide communications director for Senator John McCain’s presidential marketing campaign. You additionally labored for Google and Snap. What do you assume attracts you to politics and aggressive enterprise environments?

I like being on the middle of the motion as a result of that’s the place the impression is — and that’s the place change is born. It’s simple to criticize from the sidelines, but it surely’s no substitute for getting within the sport your self.

What’s your recommendation to ladies who may select your path and pursue high-stakes jobs?

Be simple on your self. And do the issues that convey you pleasure. These are onerous jobs that require nice vitality and focus. You’re not going to get it proper one hundred pc of the time, and in the event you can’t chuckle alongside the best way, you’ll drive your self completely loopy.

As a mum or dad of three youngsters beneath the age of 6, you’ve advocated for girls in tech. What recommendation do you give to moms who wish to tackle management roles?

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In my time at Uber, I’ve had six rounds of [fertility treatments] and three youngsters. My household and my profession convey me immense pleasure, however I’m not going to faux that at factors it hasn’t been unbelievably onerous. We’ve glamorized this concept of “having all of it” when, I believe, we must be way more clear in regards to the actuality: “Stability” requires a whole lot of assist and is commonly elusive.