Uber executive Carrol Chang has taken over as the new CEO of Andela, a startup initially founded to help companies find remote workers in emerging markets. The company experienced rapid growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, but faced challenges as hiring demand dried up. Despite this setback, Andela’s revenue has increased by 15% in the current fiscal year, driven by the use of generative AI and the need for flexible talent in the remote work landscape. Andela still has a significant portion of its funding from a recent round, positioning it for future success.
Andela’s new CEO, Chang, who previously led Uber’s global driver and courier operations, plans to leverage her experience in bringing drivers onto the platform to drive growth for Andela. She intends to engage with Andela’s customers to improve their experience and entice more contractors to join the platform. With a pool of around 150,000 contractors and key clients such as Cloudflare, Goldman Sachs, and ViacomCBS, Andela aims to become a leading marketplace for flexible talent across multiple industries.
Andela was originally focused on training junior developers and placing them with U.S. companies, but shifted its business model in response to competition and market demands. Today, the company operates as a direct marketplace, matching talent with corporate clients and providing software to manage project performance. The company claims its workers complete projects faster than traditional staffing models, making them an attractive option for businesses looking to fill specific skill gaps in areas like AI and machine learning.
Despite its innovative approach to workforce management, Andela’s model has faced criticism, particularly regarding its historical take rate and the treatment of contractors in Africa. However, the company has made changes to address these concerns, passing along a larger portion of proceeds to contractors. Both Johnson and Chang emphasize that Andela’s mission is to create opportunities for qualified individuals globally, a message supported by key investors like the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
As Chang takes the helm as Andela’s CEO, Johnson will transition to a support role on the board of directors. While Johnson’s future plans remain uncertain, he hints at the possibility of starting another startup in the future. Meanwhile, Chang is focused on driving Andela’s growth and leveraging technology to transform the industry. With the combination of her leadership and Andela’s continued innovation, the company is poised to make significant strides in the marketplace for remote talent in the coming years.
