Meet Austin Geidt, the Uber exec whose life is the stuff of Silicon Valley legend, who joined the company as an intern in 2010, got sober at age 20, and just rang the company's IPO bell

May 11, 2019, 05:21 IST

Austin Geidt’s journey to Wall Street wasn’t easy or predictable. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 2010 amid an uncertain job market following the 2008 recession when she was 25 years old.

Austin Geidt’s journey to Wall Street wasn’t easy or predictable. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 2010 amid an uncertain job market following the 2008 recession when she was 25 years old.

Geidt has been open about her struggles with drug addiction and her time in rehab when she was 19. "I had a drug addiction. I got sober. I'm 10 years sober," she said in 2015. "I was in a really dark place."

Geidt has been open about her struggles with drug addiction and her time in rehab when she was 19. "I had a drug addiction. I got sober. I'm 10 years sober," she said in 2015. "I was in a really dark place."

In the uncertain aftermath of the 2008 Recession, Geidt responded to a tweet looking for interns from a new startup — Uber.

She cold-emailed Ryan Graves, Uber’s CEO at the time, asking for the job.

She joined Uber as its fourth employee and first intern in 2010. As is the case with many early-stage companies, Geidt's role wasn't clearly defined and included everything from handing out flyers to cold-calling potential drivers. As the company grew, Geidt's role continued to change to fit the company's needs.

She joined Uber as its fourth employee and first intern in 2010. As is the case with many early-stage companies, Geidt's role wasn't clearly defined and included everything from handing out flyers to cold-calling potential drivers. As the company grew, Geidt's role continued to change to fit the company's needs.

Within five years, Uber had come to dominate the Silicon Valley startup scene. By 2015, it was valued at as much as $50 billion, with a who's who of investors on board. We don't know how much equity she owns in the company, but it's likely sizable.

Within five years, Uber had come to dominate the Silicon Valley startup scene. By 2015, it was valued at as much as $50 billion, with a who's who of investors on board. We don't know how much equity she owns in the company, but it's likely sizable.

Part of her evolving role included overseeing Uber’s expansion into international markets. As the company grew, so did Geidt's role. By 2015, she ran the team that expanded Uber into new international markets, such as Australia.

Part of her evolving role included overseeing Uber’s expansion into international markets. As the company grew, so did Geidt's role. By 2015, she ran the team that expanded Uber into new international markets, such as Australia.

Geidt says she developed skills during her time in rehab to help cope with the realities of working for such a fast-growing company.

She has been in her current role leading strategy for Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group since 2016, overseeing much of the company's push into self-driving cars.

Geidt also said that, even though she “lives and breathes Uber,” there's more to her life. "I'm so proud of the work my team has done at Uber and of the work I've done at Uber. But it's not the proudest thing I've done, right? I'm more proud of being sober," she said in 2015. "I just have perspective."

Geidt also said that, even though she “lives and breathes Uber,” there's more to her life. "I'm so proud of the work my team has done at Uber and of the work I've done at Uber. But it's not the proudest thing I've done, right? I'm more proud of being sober," she said in 2015. "I just have perspective."

Once described as an “overdressed” intern, Geidt has remained a constant force as the company went through growing pains and leadership changes. Originally hired by Graves, Geidt has seen Uber through three CEOs, including current chief executive Khosrowshahi.

Once described as an “overdressed” intern, Geidt has remained a constant force as the company went through growing pains and leadership changes. Originally hired by Graves, Geidt has seen Uber through three CEOs, including current chief executive Khosrowshahi.

On Friday, Geidt was awarded the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on the day of Uber’s IPO. After nine years with Uber, it's clear that she's considered key to the company's success.

On Friday, Geidt was awarded the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on the day of Uber’s IPO. After nine years with Uber, it's clear that she's considered key to the company's success.

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Meet Austin Geidt, the Uber exec whose life is the stuff of Silicon Valley legend, who joined the company as an intern in 2010, got sober at age 20, and just rang the company's IPO bell

Austin Geidt’s journey to Wall Street wasn’t easy or predictable. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 2010 amid an uncertain job market following the 2008 recession when she was 25 years old.

Geidt has been open about her struggles with drug addiction and her time in rehab when she was 19. "I had a drug addiction. I got sober. I'm 10 years sober," she said in 2015. "I was in a really dark place."

In the uncertain aftermath of the 2008 Recession, Geidt responded to a tweet looking for interns from a new startup — Uber.

She cold-emailed Ryan Graves, Uber’s CEO at the time, asking for the job.

Within five years, Uber had come to dominate the Silicon Valley startup scene. By 2015, it was valued at as much as $50 billion, with a who's who of investors on board. We don't know how much equity she owns in the company, but it's likely sizable.

Part of her evolving role included overseeing Uber’s expansion into international markets. As the company grew, so did Geidt's role. By 2015, she ran the team that expanded Uber into new international markets, such as Australia.

Geidt says she developed skills during her time in rehab to help cope with the realities of working for such a fast-growing company.

She has been in her current role leading strategy for Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group since 2016, overseeing much of the company's push into self-driving cars.

Once described as an “overdressed” intern, Geidt has remained a constant force as the company went through growing pains and leadership changes. Originally hired by Graves, Geidt has seen Uber through three CEOs, including current chief executive Khosrowshahi.

On Friday, Geidt was awarded the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on the day of Uber’s IPO. After nine years with Uber, it's clear that she's considered key to the company's success.