RENEWED DRIVE

BRIAN CU embarks on a different path after paving the road for Grab Philippines’ success

- GELO DIONORA

Brian Cu is happy to spend more time at home with his family. While he misses going to the gym or traveling, he says that nothing beats being able to have some peace of mind with loved ones. “I’m usually out four or five nights a week,” the former Country Head of Grab Philippines admits. “Now, I’m happy to eat more meals at home, see the kids, and bond with my family more.”

While the businessman has stepped down from his former role, his entrepreneurial spirit is still as alive as ever. “I’m going back to my roots in building businesses. I feel like I have two more start-up ideas in my mind that I want to get out. I’ve always enjoyed building businesses more than managing them. After growing a company, I’d then pass the reins to trusted colleagues who can run the day-to-day operations better.” Brian’s professional record confirms this: between mid-2010 and mid-2013, he co-founded Go-Jek, a transportation app in Indonesia, and online fashion shopping app Zalora. However, it was at Grab where he stayed the longest, building and driving the company toward its exponential growth over the past seven years.

“Working at a start-up is tough. The hours are demanding, so those seven years at Grab felt more like fourteen years,” he says. “However, Grab is like my baby—I’ve seen it grow from humble origins to its current status as a major ride-hailing and transportation service in the country. It was hard for me to leave, but I know I’m leaving Grab in good hands. The company’s full of talented people.”