How Dara Khosrowshahi Taught Aman Bhutani to Lead

Khosrowshahi pulled his head of technology aside after noticing Bhutani remained quiet during crucial discussions on advertising. When Bhutani admitted he lacked marketing experience, the future Uber CEO challenged him to stop playing it safe. He argued that avoiding the conversation ensured he would never develop the necessary mastery, urging him to risk being wrong and learning from the friction of the room. This shift in perspective allowed Bhutani to embrace the discomfort of unfamiliar domains, eventually leading him to take over the Expedia brand presidency in 2015 and later assume his current role as GoDaddy CEO.

Bhutani credits this experience for his ability to communicate effectively with diverse departments, from accounting to auditing. He now actively seeks out professional challenges that force him into uncomfortable spaces, finding that the process of constant learning keeps him engaged. However, he balances this drive with the discipline of restraint. A board member once praised his high brain-to-mouth ratio, noting that he understands the value of silence. Today, Bhutani views leadership not as an obligation to fill the air, but as a practiced balance between speaking up when it matters and listening long enough to think clearly.