Eduardo Donnelly spent nearly a decade helping build Uber in Latin America—from launching Uber Eats and scaling it 7×, to leading operations across 18 markets and overseeing half of the company’s global trips. But at the height of his career, he made a surprising decision: he stepped away. In this episode, Eduardo shares the story behind that choice, the lessons he learned from a failed startup, and how a powerful commencement speech—given by his late father at Eduardo’s own Thunderbird graduation—shaped his view on leadership, growth, and purpose. Now, as an executive coach, he’s helping others navigate their own inflection points. This is a story about building, letting go, and the values that carry us forward.

https://paperbell.me/eduardo-donnelly

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardo-donnelly/

Read Eduardo's Dad Thunderbird Graduation speech Here! 

About Eduardo in his own words:

I’m a growth-focused CEO, Executive Coach, and board advisor with over 20 years of leadership experience scaling businesses, driving operational excellence, and leading transformation in technology, mobility, and financial services. I’ve led multi-billion-dollar P&Ls, managed teams of up to 3,000 people, and delivered significant impact in fast-paced, competitive markets.

Most recently, I led Uber Mobility LatAm, Uber’s largest region, overseeing 18 markets and 50% of Uber’s global trip volume. My focus was on continuing to drive growth while delivering very high levels of profitability, and also expanding Uber Moto by 230% YoY, making it one of Uber’s fastest-growing products. I spent 4 years running Uber Eats in Latam from launching new markets, to hyper-scalling during the pandemic and turning the business profitable. During my tenure the business grew 7x. I also spearheaded the acquisition and integration of Cornershop, adding billions in annual recurring revenue to Uber’s portfolio.

Before Uber, I spent nearly a decade at American Express, where I built a $200M revenue business, doubled revenue within two years, and led an important regulatory remediation project that strengthened compliance and operational efficiency.

Key Achievements

✔ Led Uber’s largest region, overseeing 18 markets, 54M+ monthly users
✔ Delivered top and bottom line results managing a multi-billion dollar P&L growing 70% in two-years off of an already scaled business
✔ Drove 230% YoY growth for Uber Moto, making it one of Uber’s top global products
✔ Expanded Uber Eats to 11 markets, significantly surpassing sales targets and delivering 7x growth 
✔ Built a $200M business at American Express, doubling revenue in just two years
✔ Served on multiple boards, including HSBC Mexico, Uber Pagos Mexico, and Cornershop

I’m passionate about building high-performing teams, unlocking business potential, and delivering measurable impact. I thrive in environments that demand both strategic vision and operational execution, and I believe in empowering people to drive sustainable, long-term success.

I always enjoy exchanging ideas with leaders who are navigating growth, transformation, and market expansion. If my experience resonates with you, I’d love to connect.

This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments