Dan Schulman’s Post

Thanks to Brian Sozzi and Yahoo Finance for allowing me to reflect on my leadership journey.

Thank you to my friend John Hope Bryant and the HOPE Global Forums team for another inspiring Annual Meeting in Atlanta last week. I’ve had the pleasure of attending and speaking several times, and this year’s theme “making the case for optimism” was especially meaningful to me. It was an honor to speak with John about my time leading PayPal – and to reflect on the work we’ve undertaken together to advance racial equity and social justice, as well as the progress we’ve made in helping build a more inclusive economy. There is still much more work ahead of us to close the racial wealth gap, invest in underserved communities, and expand economic opportunity. But as Ambassador Andrew Young reminded all of us in attendance, it’s important to remember how far we’ve come and to not lose hope as we advance complex, long-term goals. After another visit with the community of focused and passionate leaders John has convened, I couldn’t be more optimistic about the future and the impact I know we’re going to create together.

I had the honor of joining my friend Jennifer Tescher at Money20/20 to reflect on my time as President and CEO of PayPal and discuss purpose-driven leadership. As I shared during our time together, what separates a good company from a great company is its ability to put employees first. I’ve learned throughout my career that fostering a physically, mentally, and financially healthy workforce is not only morally right, but it's good for business, ultimately driving better returns for shareholders. Thanks for the fantastic conversation, Jennifer, and thank you to Money20/20 for welcoming me back.

Today, I am honored to join the #NotAloneChallenge to remind everyone that you’re #NotAlone over the holidays. For so many, and especially in these very difficult times across the world, any one of us can feel especially anxious and despondent over the holiday season. Consequently, we’re raising awareness and funds to provide free mental health resources for everyone. No one should have to struggle in silence. As such, I’m challenging Dan Rosensweig, President and CEO of Chegg Inc., to help spread the word. Go to notalonechallenge.org for mental health resources and to bid on auction items to support Inspiring Children Foundation and Jewel Kilcher in their mission to democratize wellness. #InspiringChildren

Every documentary needs a hero and I’m so inspired by Arlo Washington, whose story is featured in “The Barber of Little Rock.” The film explores how Arlo founded People Trust Community Loan Fund, a community development financial institution (CDFI) in Little Rock, Arkansas, to help educate and financially uplift his community. I was thrilled to screen it with a group of partners and friends in Washington, D.C., last week at the historic Atlas Performing Arts Center. Arlo is changing countless lives in Little Rock and with this documentary, he will inspire so many others to make an impact in their communities.   Thank you to Arlo, John Hoffman, the film’s director and producer, and Franz Paasche for joining me to discuss this amazing documentary and the need for greater inclusion in our financial system.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of helping to shape a future where everyone can participate fully and fairly in a digital world. This week, I’m proud to join Cisco’s Board of Directors to help further their mission to inspire new possibilities in technology that powers the internet. Cisco’s commitment to connecting the unconnected and empowering teams for an inclusive future is an extension of my own journey up to this point. I look forward to working alongside Chuck Robbins and Cisco’s other Board members in the years ahead.

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with PayPal’s President and CEO Alex Chriss and reflect on my nine years leading the PayPal team. I also spent time expressing my gratitude to the people of PayPal who made my time as CEO so special. PayPal team, as I said yesterday, I hope all of you are as excited about the next chapter as I am. I cannot wait to do my part to help where I can and to cheer on your successes. PayPal is one of the few brands in the world that is going to make a real difference. Don’t take that for granted or give up for a moment. If you can continue to give 100% of yourself, then there is no stopping the potential of this great company.

It’s been just over nine years since I joined the PayPal team, and as I conclude my time as president and CEO, I’m heartened by all that we’ve accomplished. Most of all, I’m grateful for our team’s shared commitment, resilience, and perseverance. We’ve got so much to be proud of – and yet even more potential to realize as we look toward PayPal’s future. I shared some of my final thoughts with PayPal employees.

As longtime partners, PayPal and Uber have worked together since 2012 to make payments seamless and secure for both riders and drivers. Today, I’m excited to share the steps we’re taking to expand our collaboration and deepen our role as a key operational partner in Uber’s continued growth.     By leveraging our dispute automation technology, we’re helping Uber resolve fraudulent claims faster and more efficiently. Uber drivers and couriers will soon have the option to get paid instantly through PayPal and Venmo, and Uber will be expanding its share of payment processing through PayPal Braintree in markets all over the world.   I’m proud to continue our relationship with Uber to create seamless, high-performance payments experiences for customers. Our teams have constantly pushed industry boundaries, creating solutions that fit the unique business needs in this complex marketplace. Thank you to Dara and both our teams who have helped deliver a superior experience for riders and drivers with PayPal. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gXau7E6Y

I had a great conversation with David Solomon last week at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco. Among the many topics we discussed was the launch of our PayPal stablecoin PYUSD and why I feel that five years from now, it may very well have been one of PayPal’s most important and far-reaching initiatives. Thanks to David for being such a good friend and confidante. And to Lynne Marek for reporting on our session. https://lnkd.in/gft65z3b