From Waiting Tables to Uber Legend – Episode 6 with Jesse Lucas
Big things start small. The Early Podcast. Stories and insights from early employees and innovators who’ve shaped the future.
From Napster Intern to Uber Legend: Jesse Lucas on Grit, Growth & Staying in the Game
Interning at Napster… 🍝 to Olive Garden waiter… to almost getting rejected by Travis Kalanick. Jesse Lucas’ story is one of grit, humility, and relentless persistence — the kind that doesn’t show up on TechCrunch headlines but makes all the difference inside a fast-growing company.
He didn’t come from a flashy background. He wasn’t the loudest voice in the room. But he outworked everyone. He earned every inch. And when Uber took off, Jesse was the one behind the numbers — building the financial systems that helped scale the business globally.
In Episode 6 of The Early Podcast, Jesse and I dive deep into his wild journey:
🎙️ What we cover:
• How he landed an internship at Napster with zero experience (and no Excel skills!)
• Waiting tables at Olive Garden during the dot-com crash — and how he used that job to land a role at Visa
• The moment Travis Kalanick told him: “You’re not the guy” — and what happened next
• Building Uber’s finance engine from scratch during hypergrowth
• Why grit, self-awareness, and staying in the game matter more than flashy titles
Jesse’s story is a masterclass in resilience. If you’ve ever felt like you’re on the outside looking in, or you’re grinding and wondering if it’s going to pay off — this episode is for you.
On a personal note, Jesse has been hugely impactful to me throughout my career. He’s one of the smartest, toughest, most grounded people I’ve ever worked with — and also, as a millennial, I’m a total Napster fanboy. 56k modem nostalgia FTW.
Where to Listen:
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THIS was episode SIX! New episodes (at least) every Tuesday, and I’d love your feedback on who we should interview next. Email me: max@earlypod.com
Let’s go!!!!! 🚀
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