CEO Series: WeWork’s Sandeep Mathrani Discusses Turnaround (virtual)
Date: Mar 09, 2021Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Mar092021
CEO Series: WeWork’s Sandeep Mathrani Discusses Turnaround (virtual)
Description
Sandeep Mathrani joined WeWork as CEO in February 2020, after a publicly challenging time in the company’s history. Mathrani, a well-recognized real estate veteran, took on the task of streamlining the operations of the once-heralded startup that had since come under intense scrutiny. But little did he know that a full-blown pandemic would be weighing on his turnaround plan.
Two years ago, WeWork was a hot startup, expanding at a hypergrowth pace and garnering a private valuation of over $30 billion.
But, in the summer of 2019, the company’s reputation began to crack. WeWork had planned to go public that fall, but significant losses, an unsustainable valuation and corporate governance issues led to the company ultimately pulling its IPO. Former CEO Adam Neumann stepped down and SoftBank, the company’s largest shareholder, invested several billion into WeWork to keep the company afloat.
Today, Mathrani’s turnaround of WeWork is already well underway. In just 12 months, WeWork has slashed cash burn, stabilized expenses and digitized its product to offer innovative, new revenue streams. Recently, it was reported that the turnaround efforts have generated interest from SPACs and private investors alike. That the company may join the public markets after a high-profile crisis and a pandemic that tested the will of every company, is a testament to Mathrani’s vision and even-handed leadership.
Mathrani, 59, will join the HBS Club of New York for an exclusive conversation as he reflects on the last year and shares the lessons he has learned while rebuilding a business. Join us for this sure-to-be excellent conversation.
Participants must register by March 8th to receive details on joining the discussion.
Please note that no refunds will be issued.
Bios
Speaker
Sandeep Mathrani
CEO of WeWork
Sandeep Mathrani is the chief executive officer of WeWork, where he also serves as a member of the Board of Directors.
Prior to WeWork, Sandeep most recently served as CEO of Brookfield Properties Retail Group and as Vice Chairman, Brookfield Properties. Prior to that, he served as CEO of GGP Inc. for eight years. Sandeep also has held senior roles at Vornado Realty and Forest City Ratner.
Sandeep serves on the executive board and the board of trustees for the International Council of Shopping Centers, as well as on the board of directors for Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc and Dick’s Sporting Goods. He also serves on the Miami Herbert Business School Real Estate Advisory Board.
Sandeep holds a master’s of engineering, master’s of management science and bachelor’s of engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.
Moderator
Hemali Dassani, MBA '99
Hemali Dassani (MBA ’99) is an experienced fundraiser and investor relations professional within the alternative investments space and is currently a placement agent and consultant to multiple Private Equity funds. Hemali was previously Director of Investor Relations for Argand Partners and Castle Harlan, middle market private equity funds. Hemali was also a Managing Director with Old City Investment Partners, a multi-family office dedicated to finding high quality investments for the firm’s clientele of family office investors. Ms. Dassani has an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University. She was President of the Harvard Business School Club of Greater New York and currently sits on the Board of the Club and Chair’s its racial equity task force. Previously she sat on the Board of Governors for the Harvard Business School Real Estate Alumni Association and the Steering Committee for the Harvard Business School Alumni Angels Association.
Date Time
Date: Mar 09, 2021Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PMLocation
Zoom Webinar (Information to be sent to Registrants)1460 BroadwayNew York, NY 10036View Map
Price
- 10 / Member/Member Guest (limit one)
- 20 / Alumni Non-Members
- Free / Patron Members (please contact programming@hbscny.org)
- 25 / General Public
Sponsors
Attendees
Lockie Andrews, Tyra Banks, Lindsay Barbee, Chin Beckmann, Gadi BenMark Markovitch, Eric Benvenuti, Janet Benvenuti, Shane Connor, Owen Davies, Ernesto De Olazaval, Carole Gardner Diarra, Malko Ebers, Elizabeth Fairfax Brown, Juan-Manuel Fernandez Cortina, Max Fink, David Geller, Bradley Gendell, Joseph Giarraputo, Claire Goldwitz, Rachael Gursky, E. Hardman, Laurie Hays, Arthur "Bud" Hirsch, Robert Horowitz, Yie-Hsin Hung, Mike Ishizaka, Shabrina Jiva, Richard Kane, Michael Karsch, John Keefe, Shaun Khubchandani, Michael Krupa, Ian Leisegang, Laurie Leonard, Bing Lin, Jesse Liu, Lance Lundberg, Susan Lyon Hailey, Nathan Manuel, Barbara Marcin, Alan Mark, Thomas May, Michael Meltz, Joseph Morein, Barrie Moskowitz, Minh-Ha Nguyen, Arndt Nicklisch, Katherine Park, Eduardo Perezwences, William Pollak, Jonathan Ratner, John Reese, Marc Ricks, Craig Robinson, Akilah Rogers, Masatomo Sakairi, Nicholas Sakellariadis, Joshua Sandbulte, Vimal Shah, Ari Shalam, Jack Shamosh, Jeffrey Sklar, Anita Sonawane, Callum Spencer, Anne Stanton, Lance Stuart, Ajay Thakur, Kimberly Till, Whitney Tilson, David J. Valentin , Louis Vigden, Nina Wanerman, Peter Weinberg, Stephen Wesel, Harry Wilson, Leslie Wohlman-Himmel, Lloyd Zuckerberg, clare reichenbachOrganizer
Barrie Moskowitz & Lockie AndrewsZoom Webinar (Information to be sent to Registrants)
1460 Broadway, New York, NY, 10036
