Lyft CEO David Risher is still a driver for the company: It made him realize being even one minute late could cost the customer their job
Being a driver has carried Risher through his entire career: His first job was delivering the Washington Post. He worked under Jeff Bezos at Amazon before his time at Lyft.
Lyft CEO David Risher, who oversees a fleet of over 1 million drivers, occasionally takes to the road himself, even as the company’s top executive. This practice, he says, often reminds him of the critical role Lyft plays in many people's lives. In a recent interview with Fortune, Risher recounted a particular experience that highlighted the importance of punctuality for riders.
He had picked up a customer in San Francisco at 9:30 a.m., only to learn that missing his 10 a.m. deadline would result in severe consequences. The customer explained that arriving even one minute late at work would cost him his job. Risher shared this story to illustrate the high stakes for riders when relying on rideshare services.
In the past three years since assuming the CEO role at Lyft, stock prices have increased by about 50%. To address some of the challenges faced by its drivers and riders, Lyft recently introduced a new feature called Lyft Teen, enabling teenagers aged 13 to 17 to book rides independently. This change comes as Uber also rolled out similar teen accounts in 2023.
Risher's firsthand experience as a driver continues to provide valuable insights into areas needing improvement within the company. For instance, during a pickup in Sausalito, California, a rider expressed her reluctance to use Lyft if surge pricing becomes too high, as she would rather drive herself and find parking. This feedback led to the implementation of a price lock feature on the app.
Risher emphasized that he drives "to learn, not to earn," as he values understanding the driver and rider experiences firsthand. Reflecting on his own career, Risher began his journey in the gig economy as a copy delivery person for the Washington Post during his high school and college years. He went on to work various jobs, including as a waiter, food service worker, and even drove a used Honda Accord given to him by his mother.
His career took a full circle turn when he joined Microsoft early in his professional life, later becoming Amazon's senior vice president of U.S. retail under Jeff Bezos, and now leading Lyft. Bezos's business advice, "Bet on the things that never change, and build products for things that never change," continues to guide Risher's decision-making at Lyft.
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