How a global rideshare giant has been pivotal in offering what some consider “the best possible business education” in the tech landscape.
Among the most driven and imaginative leaders in Toronto’s tech sector, a noteworthy commonality shines through their LinkedIn profiles: valuable experience gained at Uber Canada.
Since its inception in Canada in 2012, Uber has consistently focused on creating innovative products that enhance mobility for users. From the advent of UberX to the expansion of Uber Eats, the company has continually sought to revolutionize the movement of people, food, and goods, redefining the connections between point A and point B.
“I quickly came to realize that I had no idea what an innovative, fast-moving company was, because Uber was operating at a totally different level.”
Moreover, Uber’s Canadian operations have also acted as a fertile breeding ground for emerging talent.
The local tech landscape has been enriched by alumni from Uber, including influential figures like Rob Khazzam, co-founder of Float; Kelly Kwan, who serves as general counsel at GoBolt; Andrew Tiffin, the chief of staff to the CRO of Shopify; and Rachel Wong, co-founder of Monday Girl.
Prominent Canadian startups and scale-ups, such as FreshBooks, Clutch, and The Peak, feature senior team members who honed their expertise during their time with Uber.
Within Uber, employees experienced an environment characterized by rapid advancement, continuous product innovation, and the pressure of navigating ever-evolving market demands. This unique blend required an exceptional combination of strategic insight and enduring perseverance.
Today, those who once trained at Uber Canada have transferred their invaluable experiences and skills to foster growth and innovation in local startups that are redefining Toronto’s tech ecosystem.
Anne French, VP of Strategy and Biz Ops, Clutch
Starting with a foundation in corporate structures, Anne French found her true passion in the dynamic environment at Uber that resonated with her ambition.
Transitioning from brand marketing at Coca-Cola to Uber’s Toronto team in 2015, she embraced the fast-paced tech world just as Uber expanded operations across Canada.
“Uber was really unique,” she reflected. “We were simultaneously advocating for a regulatory framework that would enable Uber to operate while building the infrastructure to support the product’s unprecedented consumer adoption and rapid scale-up.”
Uber empowered its Toronto team to define their operations amid rapid growth. French’s portfolio of roles morphed significantly, starting with leading initiatives for revolutionary shared services like Uber Pool.
“People forget it now, but the concept of getting into a car with a stranger was a little bit crazy,” she added, reflecting on the public’s initial skepticism.
She played pivotal roles in important partnerships, such as Uber’s transit collaboration with the town of Innisfil, Ont., while also managing operations for Uber Eats during the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic—describing it as “a very, very crazy time, but incredibly rewarding.”
The local-first approach at Uber and its nimble strategy left French with lasting impressions. “It was very much that ‘all-hands-on-deck’ mentality. There’s no job that’s too big or too small. We were really building a business off the ground,” she emphasized.
French’s progression at Uber was exponential. She commenced as Marketing Manager of Uber Rides, later assumed the position of Chief Staff for Uber’s Head of Marketing for US and Canada, and eventually became Head of Operations for Uber Eats Canada.
The entrepreneurial mindset and tactical skills she acquired during her tenure at Uber continue to guide her in her current capacity at the auto-commerce platform Clutch, where she spearheads strategy and business operations.
“People weren’t necessarily satisfied with how they moved around a city before Uber, but not everyone was saying, ‘This has to change,’” she noted. “It’s similar to car buying and selling. Most people don’t love their options, but before Clutch they couldn’t envision an alternative. It takes a team with a bold idea and courage to challenge the norm.”
As part of Uber’s alumni network, she finds immense value in the connections forged during her time there. She described this group as “a very tight-knit group who have built these bonds… a network of people that have their fingerprints all over the tech companies across Toronto.”
She underscored how Uber fortified her confidence and sharpened her ability to navigate the tech sector, especially given her non-technical background.
“If I’d spent most of my career in corporate, I probably wouldn’t have developed the skill set, experience, network or confidence to make the transition into an executive role as I have now,” she added.
Brett Chang, Co-Founder, The Peak
Brett Chang has always been passionate about addressing transportation challenges.
In 2014, he launched a crowdfunded bus line in Toronto aimed at connecting Liberty Village with Union Station. Although the initiative faced regulatory hurdles that led to its closure, it created opportunities for Chang to collaborate with Uber’s then-general manager, Ian Black.
In 2015, Chang joined Uber as a Marketing Manager, coinciding with the launch of UberX in the city. He later progressed to becoming a Senior Public Policy associate.
“Uber was the most exciting place in the world to work at the time,” Chang recalled, reminiscing about the exhilarating atmosphere filled with high-stakes projects, from onboarding drivers in Canadian communities to advocating for ridesharing regulations at Toronto City Hall. This new territory energizingly raised the bar for him as he seized the opportunity to drive local change.
“If you had an idea that you wanted to take on, you were given license to,” he said, sharing his firsthand experience with Uber’s partnership with Innisfil, which aimed to develop a lasting transit solution operational to this day.
Chang also played a vital role in managing Uber’s collaborations with Toronto Pearson Airport, while also enhancing cyclist safety initiatives under the city’s Vision Zero project. His team introduced app features aimed at warning passengers when exiting onto bike lanes, as well as “look before you open” decals for vehicles to enhance safety.
“Uber was the best possible business education I could have gotten,” Chang expressed, recognizing the foundational skills fostered during his three years in the company’s fast-paced environment, setting him up for success as the co-founder of his current business media initiative, The Peak. Despite moving on from Uber, he continuously attributes his development to his formative experiences there.
“A lot of my friends from Uber joke that we probably should have just stuck around at Uber for the entirety of our careers,” Chang said with a laugh. “It was just an incredible experience to work with amazing people.”
Faye Pang, Chief Growth Officer, Freshbooks
Faye Pang’s journey with Uber began in 2015, not from a corporate perspective, but as an enthusiastic user of the app.
“I was one of Uber’s biggest fans in Toronto,” she proudly noted. “At the time, it was just a ride-sharing app, and I used it frequently. It represented a refreshing change from the norm.”
In 2015, an exciting position arose that allowed Pang to transition from consumer to a key player within Uber’s dynamic setup as a Senior Marketing Manager.
Describing her introduction as a “swift plunge into the deep end,” she humorously referenced the rapid changes that greeted her on her first day, with Uber deciding Toronto would serve as the test ground for a standalone Uber Eats app, aiming for a launch within the year.
“I quickly came to realize that I had no idea what an innovative, fast-moving company was, because Uber was operating at a totally different level,” she stated. “The pace at which people moved, just the challenge, the passion, the drive was unlike anything I’d ever seen.”
After the triumphant rollout of Uber Eats, Pang’s responsibilities expanded, initially overseeing marketing for restaurants, then advancing to General Manager for Uber Eats Canada, and finally, General Manager of Uber Freight.
Pang championed several groundbreaking initiatives at Uber Canada, including paving the path for maternity leave policies and co-leading the influential global Parents at Uber group, introducing ideas like ‘Bring Your Kid to Work’ days.
She also played a significant role in establishing ‘The Daras,’ an internal awards ceremony reminiscent of an Oscars night featuring Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s likeness. This cherished tradition continues today.
After departing Uber in 2020, Pang took on fresh challenges at Xero, transitioning to her current role as Chief Growth Officer at FreshBooks earlier this year. Here, she oversees a broad scope of operations including sales, marketing, customer support, and partnerships, encapsulating all the lessons gleaned from her tenure at Uber.
At FreshBooks, Pang often collaborates with fellow Uber alumni, and she reflects how they share a unique understanding: “Remember how we did this at Uber? Let’s bring a bit of that spirit here.”
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Learn more about Uber’s tech hub in Toronto and careers here.
Headshots provided by Uber, and sourced via LinkedIn, and X.
Ber Eats, Pang took on a wider range of responsibilities, ultimately helping to scale the brand’s marketing efforts massively. She emphasized that the experience pushed her outside her comfort zone, tightening her understanding of both digital marketing and operational strategy.
“I learned so much about consumer behavior and market dynamics,” Pang said. “Every day was a new challenge, and I thrived in the chaos.” Her bold ideas and tenacity allowed her to contribute significantly to Uber’s expansion in Canada, where she paved the way for many innovative campaigns that resonated with users.
Pang’s time at Uber fortified her expertise, ultimately leading her to her current role as Chief Growth Officer at FreshBooks, a cloud accounting software company. “The skills I honed at Uber—whether in terms of analytics, creative strategy, or team leadership—are invaluable,” she noted. “Working there instilled a confidence in taking risks and challenging the status quo.”
Reflecting on her transition from Uber to FreshBooks, she highlighted the profound sense of community among Uber’s alumni. “It’s a network of extraordinary individuals who support one another, share opportunities, and continue to impact the tech landscape.”
As the tech scene in Toronto continues to flourish, these former Uber employees embody the spirit of innovation, adaptability, and collaboration that the company fostered. Their journeys illustrate how foundational experiences at a groundbreaking company can shape and propel careers in transformative ways, leaving a lasting mark on the local tech ecosystem.
