This interview is a part of our newest Ladies and Management particular report, which highlights ladies making vital contributions to the key tales unfolding on the earth right now. The dialog has been edited and condensed.
Jill Hazelbaker, 40, a former political spokeswoman, is the senior vice chairman of selling 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 have been stated 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 isn’t any query that issues occurred within the firm that weren’t OK. We would have liked to get our home so as internally after which repair it externally. I took it as a chance to attempt to make a profound affect.
Are you able to clarify the report’s methodology?
We examined information from 2017 and 2018, when a mean of three.1 million journeys happened every day within the U.S. We checked out critical security incidents reported on the platform from riders and drivers, together with vital crashes, sexual assaults and bodily assaults. And we additionally collaborated with outdoors consultants and third-party organizations.
The report revealed that Uber is protected, and statistically talking, incidents are uncommon: 99.9 p.c of Uber journeys ended with none safety-related difficulty, and 0.0003 p.c of journeys had a report of a crucial security incident.
However even one incident is just too many, so it was about what new approaches we might take.
And what have been a few of these approaches?
One of many massive points is confirming who your driver is, so Confirm Your Trip 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 to be able 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 robotically with first responders, or riders and drivers can ship a textual content message to 911.
One other characteristic is Share My Journey, the place riders and drivers can share with members of the family or associates who can comply with their journey in actual time and know after they’ve arrived.
You’ve stated that you will replace the report. Are you able to be extra particular about when?
We’ve dedicated to releasing Security Experiences each two years. We depend on information from the federal authorities, which has been delayed however is predicted to be launched quickly. As soon as that information is launched, we’ll finalize and difficulty our subsequent report, seemingly this spring.
You additionally stated you’ll search a technique to share the names of drivers who have been accused of rape with rivals, in order that they don’t merely transfer to a different hailing service.
Sure, for the reason that report was launched, we launched the Trade Sharing Security Program. This allows firms to alternate primary details about drivers and supply individuals who have been deactivated for critical security incidents to assist forestall these people from working on one other platform.
You’ve steered Uber via progress, difficult moments and one of many largest tech preliminary public choices in historical past (in Could 2019). What’s the largest problem you see for Uber?
I feel a serious problem and alternative is to meaningfully enhance the established order for individuals who work on platforms like ours. At this time, Uber is likely one of the largest sources of labor — of any form — on the earth. 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 in the course of the pandemic, however drivers and couriers have all the time understood that being unbiased shouldn’t imply being by yourself. That’s why our coverage groups the world over are preventing for a greater deal for gig economic system staff; you’ll be able to nonetheless be unbiased, however you additionally get advantages and protections.
We’ve made a variety of progress, but it surely’s going to take time. Finally, 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 fee however was nonetheless very a lot the “little sibling” to our mobility enterprise. As Covid hit, and folks stopped shifting 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 remodel supply into different classes corresponding to grocery, comfort, alcohol, pharmacy and extra.
Earlier than Uber, you had a profession in politics during 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 suppose attracts you to politics and aggressive enterprise environments?
I like being on the heart of the motion as a result of that’s the place the affect 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 would possibly select your path and pursue high-stakes jobs?
Be simple on your self. And do the issues that deliver you pleasure. These are arduous jobs that require nice power and focus. You’re not going to get it proper one hundred pc of the time, and if you happen to can’t snicker alongside the best way, you’ll drive your self completely loopy.
As a guardian 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?
In my time at Uber, I’ve had six rounds of [fertility treatments] and three youngsters. My household and my profession deliver me immense pleasure, however I’m not going to faux that at factors it hasn’t been unbelievably arduous. We’ve glamorized this concept of “having all of it” when, I feel, we needs to be rather more clear concerning the actuality: “Steadiness” requires a variety of assist and is usually elusive.