Partnerships Driving Innovation: How Ride-Hailing is Changing Transportation | Jen Shepherd

Public transit agencies are grappling with various challenges, from managing increasing ridership to enhancing the customer experience and ensuring improved accessibility. In response to the post-pandemic world, Uber has adjusted its strategy, focusing on solving these problems by offering services such as micro-transits, paratransit, first and last-mile connectivity, and late-night outage assistance. With partnerships spanning over 60 transit agencies globally, Uber is at the forefront of addressing these challenges and driving a more connected transportation ecosystem. In North America, Uber is placing emphasis on micro-transit and paratransit services, while in Europe, the company is collaborating with first and last-mile providers. As we look ahead to the emergence of autonomous mobility, it becomes crucial for transit agencies to partner with different stakeholders to continually improve the customer experience.

In this episode, we dive into the evolution of the ride-hailing or on-demand industry, which has transformed the mobility landscape. Initially seen as a competitor to traditional taxis and public transportation, it quickly led to the emergence of new partnership opportunities that reshaped the way we travel.

Jen Shepherd is the Global Head of Uber Transit. She is responsible for overseeing the development and expansion of the Uber Transit feature, which allows users to plan and pay for public transportation trips within the Uber app. This includes working with transit agencies and other partners to integrate their services into the app, as well as ensuring that the user experience is seamless and intuitive. Under her leadership, Uber has expanded its transit offerings to more cities and has continued to invest in the development of the Uber Transit feature. She has more than 15 years of experience in strategy and technology. Prior to joining Uber, she worked at Deloitte, Walt Disney, and Starbucks.