078: Lessons From Uber’s Successes and Failures

In most cases we like to make each show on this podcast as timeless as possible, so we tend to talk about more high-level brand concepts. Today, however, we want to talk about Uber.

Uber is a self-defined “platform” that acts as a middleman for freelance car drivers and people who need a lift. It is in dozens of countries around the world and hundreds of cities, and its drivers have collectively completed several billion rides.

While the company has seen incredible growth and success over the last eight years, it is also subject to an incredible amount of controversy. The Uber brand has taken a significant hit, and there’s a lot we can learn from its history.

In today’s show, we’ll be discussing the Uber brand and both its successes and failures, and see what we can learn from a company whose past and future are quite shaky.