From Business Insider · Natalie Musumeci · · 1m 50s
Kalanick's crisis playbook emerges as Huang faces scandal
Uber's ex-CEO shares a 12-point guide for fighting reputational crises as Nvidia's Jensen Huang battles fallout from an affair and alleged foreign intelligence targeting.
In brief
Uber's ex-CEO shares a 12-point guide for fighting reputational crises as Nvidia's Jensen Huang battles fallout from an affair and alleged foreign intelligence targeting. Travis Kalanick published a 12-point crisis management guide without naming Jensen Huang, whose admission of an extramarital affair has prompted…
Kalanick's crisis guide emerges
Travis Kalanick, Uber's cofounder and ex-CEO, shared a 12-point guide for combating what he called a modern-day coup, psyop, or struggle session on X Monday.
The Huang scandal backdrop
Kalanick did not name Jensen Huang or Nvidia, but his message appeared as scrutiny intensified over Huang's admission that he had an extramarital affair.
Alice Huang and intelligence concerns
At the center of the saga is Alice Huang, whom The New York Times reported last month was believed by US intelligence officials to be acting as a spy for the Chinese government.
Principle one: resist the mob
Kalanick's first principle stated: Own what you did but fiercely resist accommodating the mob, resist owning half-truths or actions or behaviors you didn't do.
“Own what you did but fiercely resist accommodating the mob, resist owning half-truths or actions/behaviors you didn't do.”
Build a loyal war room
Kalanick advised building a team of close and loyal patriots with one running a dedicated, well-resourced war room to put the rebellion to rest.
Cut off suspected disloyalty
Kalanick urged not hesitating in cutting off anyone suspected of disloyalty and finding enemies at the root of the operation to neutralize them.
Use encrypted messaging
Kalanick advised downloading Telegram and using it as the messaging application for all sensitive communications during the crisis.
Nvidia launches independent investigation
Jensen Huang's admission of being unfaithful to his wife of over forty years prompted Nvidia to launch an independent investigation into whether he was the target of a foreign intelligence effort.
The bottom line
Travis Kalanick published a 12-point crisis management guide without naming Jensen Huang, whose admission of an extramarital affair has prompted Nvidia to investigate whether he was targeted by foreign intelligence.
