Lyft CEO David Risher recently revealed a moment in his career which drew sharp criticism from none other than Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates . Speaking at Fortune’s Leadership Next podcast, Risher recounted his 1996 decision to leave Microsoft for a then nascent startup Amazon . Risher revealed that his decision to join Amazon was called the ‘stupidest thing’ by Bill Gates.
Gates to Risher: ‘A tiny internet bookstore?’
As reported by Bezinga, At the time when Risher decided to quit Microsoft, he was a rising star at the company. He said that he chose to join Jeff Bezos ’s fledgling online bookstore. Gates, unimpressed, reportedly told him: “You mean to tell me you’re leaving this company for some tiny, little internet bookstore that nobody’s ever heard of… that has got to be the stupidest decision I’ve ever heard anyone made.”
Despite the rebuke, Risher followed his instincts, drawn to Bezos’s customer-first philosophy and long-term vision—principles that would later define Amazon’s meteoric rise to a $2.3 trillion tech titan.
Risher’s comeback playbook at Lyft
Now CEO of Lyft, Risher is channeling that same boldness to revive the ride-sharing company. Since taking the reins in 2023, he’s prioritized a customer-centric strategy, even going undercover as a driver to better understand user pain points.
Under his leadership, Lyft has rolled out features like “Price Lock” and a 70% earnings guarantee for drivers—moves aimed at regaining market share and restoring profitability.
Interestingly, Gates and Bezos—despite their past divergence over Amazon—now share common ground in backing FieldAI, a robotics startup. Their mutual interest in emerging technologies suggests that while their paths may differ, their vision for innovation continues to converge.
Gates to Risher: ‘A tiny internet bookstore?’
As reported by Bezinga, At the time when Risher decided to quit Microsoft, he was a rising star at the company. He said that he chose to join Jeff Bezos ’s fledgling online bookstore. Gates, unimpressed, reportedly told him: “You mean to tell me you’re leaving this company for some tiny, little internet bookstore that nobody’s ever heard of… that has got to be the stupidest decision I’ve ever heard anyone made.”
Despite the rebuke, Risher followed his instincts, drawn to Bezos’s customer-first philosophy and long-term vision—principles that would later define Amazon’s meteoric rise to a $2.3 trillion tech titan.
Risher’s comeback playbook at Lyft
Now CEO of Lyft, Risher is channeling that same boldness to revive the ride-sharing company. Since taking the reins in 2023, he’s prioritized a customer-centric strategy, even going undercover as a driver to better understand user pain points.
Under his leadership, Lyft has rolled out features like “Price Lock” and a 70% earnings guarantee for drivers—moves aimed at regaining market share and restoring profitability.
Interestingly, Gates and Bezos—despite their past divergence over Amazon—now share common ground in backing FieldAI, a robotics startup. Their mutual interest in emerging technologies suggests that while their paths may differ, their vision for innovation continues to converge.
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