Food for thought: Q&A with Uber Eats NZ Country Manager Emma Foley

Uber hit the global market some time ago, revolutionising the transport industry overnight. Now we’re being spoon fed generous amounts of its culinary innovation via Uber Eats. Shattering glass ceilings in the tech industry, the Country Manager Emma Foley talks with Metropol about what it’s like to run one of the most iconic brands in the world.

The Uber Eats concept is revolutionary – what does it mean for the culinary industry in Christchurch?

Uber Eats offers Christchurch locals unprecedented convenience, selection and reliability to get the food they love, delivered to where they happen to be. There are currently more than 100 restaurants and more than 5,000 freshly prepared menu items available on the Uber Eats app.
Since we launched in October 2017 we’ve expanded the Uber Eats Christchurch service area by more than 55 percent. We covered 100 square kms at launch, and we now deliver to an area spanning 155 square kms.

How is Uber Eats harnessing the best of technological innovation?

Uber Eats is an on-demand food delivery app and website that helps bring millions of people around the world the food they want, at the tap of a button.
If you compare our platform to retailers who embraced the move to online and to customers wanting to use multiple channels, they are doing the best today. We are passionate about helping restaurants thrive. We do this by offering 24/7 support, access to innovative marketing campaigns, data about the meals they sell, and reliable access to delivery services.

Women in tech remains a hot topic given the gender imbalance across the industry – how does it feel to be the Country Manager for one of the world’s most recognisable tech companies?

I absolutely love my job and feel lucky to be surrounded by passionate people. Currently my manager and her manager are both female, so I feel lucky to have some great role models to look up to.
I would love to see even more women going into careers in technology. While the obvious path is continuing to study STEM subjects through school and university, it’s also great to realise that it’s never too late to give it a go. I’m a passionate member of our ‘WomANZ’ committee (our Australia and NZ women’s employee group). One of the projects is determining how we can use our skills and experience to encourage more young women into tech careers.

What does a day in your life look like?

There’s no typical day leading the Uber Eats NZ business, and it’s one of the things I love most about my role. I’d say my role is a 50/50 mix of people management and business strategy – but every day looks different!
I might start the day with a check-in meeting with my team, discussing our key business metrics and diving into any issues or project details. In the afternoon, you might find me on a call with a colleague in Brisbane talking about our virtual restaurant initiatives (where restaurants can run new brands out of one kitchen), a meeting with one of our large restaurant partners, then in a call with one of our product team in Singapore discussing the rollout of one of our new app features.
And of course, finding some time for emails! It takes a lot to stay on top of all the exciting things happening with Uber, so connecting with my colleagues around the world is a must.