For many big company executives planning five years ahead used to be a key part of running a company. But Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi believes that approach no longer fits today’s fast-changing tech world. According to him, no leader can accurately predict what the industry will look like five years from now and pretending otherwise can actually hurt decision-making.
Dara said THIS in an interview for an episode of CNBC’s Leaders Playbook
Data Khosrowshahi says the pace of change in technology, consumer behaviour, and global events has made long-term predictions today unreliable. New technologies emerge quickly, markets shift without warning, and unexpected challenges can completely change business priorities. In such an environment, fixed long-term plans often become outdated before they are fully executed.
Think in Scenarios
“If you think you’re planning five years into the future, you’re kidding yourself,” Khosrowshahi said. All you can do is be honest with yourself, your team and “prepare yourself for the probabilities.”
Instead of setting goals far into the future, the Uber CEO suggests a more flexible approach. Leaders should focus on understanding different possibilities and preparing for multiple outcomes. This means thinking in terms of probabilities rather than certainties.
By accepting that the future is uncertain, companies can stay alert and adjust their strategies as situations evolve. Dara Khosrowshahi believes this approach helps businesses move faster, manage risks better, and make smarter use of resources. It also encourages teams to stay open to change rather than sticking blindly to an old roadmap.
How Uber Is Applying This Thinking?
Uber’s own strategy reflects this mindset. When talking about future technologies like self-driving cars, Dara Khosrowshahi avoids making bold promises with fixed timelines. Instead, he treats autonomous vehicles as a strong possibility rather than a guaranteed outcome.
Uber is exploring this space through partnerships and experiments, while continuing to strengthen its core ride-hailing and delivery businesses. This allows the company to stay prepared for future opportunities without relying on one big bet that may or may not pay off.
A New Style of Leadership
Dara Khosrowshahi’s views highlight a larger change in how tech leaders think today. In industries driven by artificial intelligence, automation, and digital platforms, flexibility has become more valuable than long-term certainty. Leaders are now expected to guide their companies through constant change rather than follow a fixed script.
In the end, the message is clear that success in today’s tech world doesn’t come from predicting the future perfectly. It comes from building teams and systems that can adapt, learn, and respond no matter what the future looks like.
