New Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told Expedia employees via email that he was “scared” as he leaves that company after 12 years.

“I have to tell you that I’m scared. I’ve been here at Expedia for so long that I’ve forgotten what life is outside of this place,” Khosrowshahi wrote, according to an email published by GeekWire.

“But the times of greatest learning for me have been when I’ve been through big changes, or taken on new roles – you have to move out of your comfort zone and develop muscles that you didn’t know you had. I always tell people to look for a role where they, as an individual, can make a difference, at a company that is making a difference. I know I can look back at my work at Expedia and say mission accomplished. And I can look forward to Uber and know that I will make a difference, hopefully for the better.”

Khosrowshahi began work at Uber on Wednesday at the company’s San Francisco headquarters.

He told employees that the ride-hailing company must change, and what got it to this point won’t get it to the next level.

Khosrowshahi led Expedia from 2005 and helped build it into one of the largest travel-booking sites in the world. Analysts say his experience is a good match for the troubled Uber, which is trying to change a culture of rampant sexual harassment and faces allegations of corporate espionage and of trying to thwart inspectors from cities that wanted to regulate it.

Uber gave a few details of Khosrowshahi’s speech in a series of tweets. He said that culture has to come from the bottom up. If it comes from the top, people don’t believe it.

He also said bringing in a chairman “to be my partner at the board level — driving agenda and rhythm of the board” is important.

Uber must focus on its core business, pay the bills and “take big shots” to build for the future, he said, according to the tweets.

Khosrowshahi will meet with small groups of employees and spend time with drivers in the coming weeks, the company said.

The ride-hailing company confirmed late Tuesday in a note to employees that the former Expedia CEO had accepted the top job. The note says Uber’s eight-member board voted unanimously to offer him the job on Sunday.

Read more at:

https://www.geekwire.com/2017/full-email-new-uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-tells-expedia-team-hes-scared-optimistic-role/