I think I wanted to be a doctor. In Iran, the engineering and medical professions are worshipped. My father very much wanted me to be a doctor. I was certainly eager to please as a young man - as a kid, I should say.

Dara Khosrowshahi’s quote reflects on his early aspirations and the cultural values that influenced his career choices. He mentions that in Iran, professions such as engineering and medicine are highly respected and even "worshipped" in the society. Khosrowshahi’s desire to become a doctor was partly driven by these cultural expectations, as well as the influence of his father, who had a strong preference for him to enter the medical field. This reflects a common phenomenon in many cultures where certain careers are viewed as prestigious and are often seen as the ideal paths for young people to pursue.

The mention of being "eager to please" highlights the pressure Khosrowshahi felt as a young man, particularly in relation to his father’s wishes. It reflects the internal conflict many children experience when balancing their own interests and desires with the expectations placed on them by their families. In this case, Khosrowshahi’s initial interest in medicine was tied to a desire to meet his father’s expectations, even though, as he later reveals, his true calling led him elsewhere.

Khosrowshahi’s reflections also suggest that, like many people, his youthful ambitions were shaped by external pressures rather than a fully developed personal passion. This is common in many cultures, where family approval and social status often play significant roles in shaping career decisions. The quote implies that his childhood desire to be a doctor was less about a personal calling and more about fulfilling expectations and being seen as successful in the eyes of his family and society.

The origin of this quote likely comes from Khosrowshahi’s later reflections on his career path, particularly as someone who transitioned from aspiring to be a doctor to becoming the CEO of Uber. His comment reveals how early life decisions can be influenced by cultural and familial pressures, and how these pressures might diverge from one’s actual passion and talents. Khosrowshahi’s eventual success in the world of business and technology shows how life’s path is not always linear, and that personal fulfillment often comes from following one’s true calling, even when it diverges from early expectations.