Meet Bozoma Saint John: The woman tasked with fixing Uber's image

Summary

Bozoma Saint John, Uber's new Chief Brand Officer, discusses her fearless approach to revamping the company's image amidst scandals and CEO resignation. She emphasizes the importance of representation for women and people of color, and her commitment to improving Uber's culture and relationships with riders and drivers. Saint John, a marketing powerhouse with experience at Pepsi, views her role as an opportunity to create positive change and redefine Uber's narrative.

Takeaways

• 🚖 Uber is undergoing a significant cultural shift following scandals and the resignation of CEO Travis Kalanick.
• 🌟 Boze Ama St. John has been appointed as Uber's Chief Brand Officer to help rebuild the company's image.
• 💪 St. John is undaunted by the challenges, seeing potential and opportunities for positive change within Uber.
• 🤝 As Chief Brand Officer, her focus is on mending Uber's relationship with both riders and drivers.
• 🔥 Uber has taken serious actions, such as firing 20 employees, following over 200 investigations into sexual harassment and misconduct.
• 🌈 St. John is committed to improving representation for people of color and women in the workplace.
• 💔 The departure of Travis Kalanick was a significant cultural change that requires recalibration within Uber.
• 💼 St. John's background includes successful executive roles in marketing for major brands like Pepsi.
• 💡 She views herself as a 'change agent', adept at navigating and communicating through transitions.
• 🏆 Her personal philosophy after facing adversity, such as losing her husband to cancer, is to keep pushing forward.
• 💰 St. John advises to start salary negotiations high to allow room for negotiation and avoid setting a low initial value.

Q & A

What is Bo's amaz st. John's role at Uber?

Bo's amaz st. John is the chief brand officer at Uber, tasked with helping to turn around the company's image.

What challenges is Uber facing that st. John will need to address?

Uber is dealing with sexual assault allegations, safety issues, and a recent wave of employee terminations due to investigations into sexual harassment and other misconduct.

How does st. John plan to rebuild Uber's relationship with riders and drivers?

st. John plans to focus on representation matters and ensure that people of color and women can show up at work, do their best work, and be appreciated.

What was st. John's reaction to the resignation of Uber's CEO Travis Kalanick?

She acknowledged that it was difficult but did not elaborate on the specifics, stating that finding new leadership is a task left to the board.

How does st. John view her role in promoting diversity in Silicon Valley?

st. John sees her role as an opportunity to be a representation for change, similar to her experience as one of the first Ghanian families in Colorado Springs.

What personal experience does st. John relate to her new role at Uber?

She relates her experience of feeling like an outsider when her family moved to Colorado and how she adapted by connecting with her peers.

How did st. John's background in marketing prepare her for her role at Uber?

st. John became a powerhouse executive for some of the world's biggest brands, like Pepsi, which equipped her with the skills to connect and communicate effectively.

How did st. John cope with the loss of her husband?

She relied on his advice to 'keep going, keep hustling' and found ways to move forward despite the difficulty.

What is st. John's work philosophy, particularly regarding salary negotiations?

st. John advises to give a high number first in salary negotiations, allowing room to negotiate down while ensuring a higher starting point.

What does success at Uber look like for st. John?

Success for st. John would be when people at a cocktail party would say that Uber is a cool place to be, indicating a positive shift in the company's image.

What is st. John's theme song and why did she choose it?

Her theme song is 'Diamonds on the Sole of My Shoes' by Paul Simon, which she likely chose for its message of resilience and success in the face of adversity.