The DeWinter Difference with Dave Stephenson, Chief Business Officer and Head of Employee Experience at Airbnb

1
00:00:00,574 --> 00:00:00,927
everyone.
2
00:00:00,994 --> 00:00:04,764
My name is Derek DeWinter and welcome
to our listeners who are tuning into
3
00:00:04,764 --> 00:00:07,954
the DeWinter Difference, an audio
podcast where I spend a bit of time
4
00:00:07,954 --> 00:00:11,984
with incredible executives I've known
for years, and you get to listen in, I
5
00:00:11,984 --> 00:00:16,294
hope our conversations are unique, fun,
insightful, short enough to keep your
6
00:00:16,294 --> 00:00:19,954
attention, but long enough to listen
to on the way from point A to point B,
7
00:00:20,444 --> 00:00:23,944
our goal is to have fun and share a few
takeaways that you can apply in your
8
00:00:23,944 --> 00:00:25,904
own career, life, and relationships.
9
00:00:26,148 --> 00:00:29,868
Today, you get to listen to a
conversation between yours truly and Dave
10
00:00:29,918 --> 00:00:34,018
Stevenson, chief business officer and
head of employee experience at Airbnb.
11
00:00:34,498 --> 00:00:38,988
This is a newish role for Dave, who
more recently was the CFO at Airbnb.
12
00:00:39,068 --> 00:00:41,298
Prior to that, he spent a
handful of incredible years at
13
00:00:41,308 --> 00:00:42,638
a little company called amazon.
14
00:00:42,798 --> 00:00:44,868
com and Procter and Gamble.
15
00:00:44,968 --> 00:00:47,088
Dave, thanks a ton for joining us today.
16
00:00:48,023 --> 00:00:49,053
Derek, it's great to be here.
17
00:00:49,053 --> 00:00:49,693
Thanks for having me.
18
00:00:50,258 --> 00:00:50,468
you know,
19
00:00:50,468 --> 00:00:53,108
it's one thing to look at this
finished product, which is you and
20
00:00:53,108 --> 00:00:55,878
maybe you wouldn't describe yourself
as a finished product quite yet,
21
00:00:55,878 --> 00:01:00,028
but it's a whole other thing to
see how you came to be here today.
22
00:01:00,028 --> 00:01:04,678
And so kind of going back all the way to
being a Bobcat at Montana State, can you
23
00:01:04,678 --> 00:01:09,138
share a little bit about your journey
and how you got from there to here?
24
00:01:10,473 --> 00:01:10,853
Sure.
25
00:01:10,903 --> 00:01:12,243
Yeah, you know, I grew up in Montana.
26
00:01:12,243 --> 00:01:16,140
Both of my parents from Montana would
go back, you know, multiple generations.
27
00:01:16,173 --> 00:01:18,180
Uh, Love to be a big skier in Montana.
28
00:01:18,180 --> 00:01:21,830
And I stayed in Montana to go to school
in Montana state and be a ski racer.
29
00:01:22,180 --> 00:01:24,250
Also thought at the time I
wanted to be an architect.
30
00:01:24,690 --> 00:01:31,280
And then I realized that an architect
was an amazing career, but maybe
31
00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,750
not one that could get me to where
I wanted to be in the future.
32
00:01:33,750 --> 00:01:35,140
And I felt like engineering.
33
00:01:35,445 --> 00:01:38,645
Was an opportunity for me
to use my kind of analytical
34
00:01:38,645 --> 00:01:40,275
skills and do something bigger.
35
00:01:40,735 --> 00:01:43,895
And I was fortunate to have a first job.
36
00:01:44,265 --> 00:01:47,115
Out of Montana State going to
work for Procter and Gamble.
37
00:01:47,345 --> 00:01:51,205
My first job out of college,
I made shampoo and toothpaste.
38
00:01:51,265 --> 00:01:54,755
So you can ask me about putting
toothpaste and toothpaste tubes.
39
00:01:55,285 --> 00:01:59,915
But it was a great learning ground to kind
of expand my skills and experience coming
40
00:01:59,915 --> 00:02:01,995
from engineering, out into the real world.
41
00:02:02,264 --> 00:02:03,214
I moved to the Midwest.
42
00:02:03,419 --> 00:02:04,559
Moved to Iowa.
43
00:02:04,559 --> 00:02:08,760
So it's hard being a big ski racer
and moving to the flatlands of Iowa.
44
00:02:08,833 --> 00:02:11,713
But um, Procter and Gamble is
just such a great training ground.
45
00:02:11,713 --> 00:02:13,183
I was willing to make that sacrifice.
46
00:02:13,603 --> 00:02:18,293
And, you know, along the way I
got my MBA at Procter and Gamble.
47
00:02:18,293 --> 00:02:22,093
They supported me and, getting my
master's degree and I was buying
48
00:02:22,093 --> 00:02:23,288
my books off of this little.
49
00:02:23,763 --> 00:02:25,633
online bookstore called Amazon.
50
00:02:25,643 --> 00:02:30,233
And one day there was a job
posting on the website for a role.
51
00:02:30,233 --> 00:02:33,683
And I was like, you know, I asked my
wife, Hey, can I, you know, put my resume
52
00:02:33,683 --> 00:02:36,953
in for this job opportunity in Seattle?
53
00:02:37,323 --> 00:02:38,243
And I did.
54
00:02:38,523 --> 00:02:43,853
And, you know, it was fortunate enough to
be able to join all the way back in 1999.
55
00:02:44,353 --> 00:02:48,743
So yeah, it's incredible ride spent
there almost 20 years at Amazon on
56
00:02:48,753 --> 00:02:50,173
a bunch of different finance roles.
57
00:02:50,928 --> 00:02:54,038
I felt like I was going to be there for
a long time, maybe the rest of my career.
58
00:02:54,468 --> 00:02:59,468
And then Brian Chesky called me and told
me what he wanted to build in terms of
59
00:02:59,468 --> 00:03:03,318
Airbnb and the skills that he needed out
of his next CFO and felt like I could
60
00:03:03,318 --> 00:03:07,648
use the 30 years of experience that I
had had at Amazon to kind of bring to
61
00:03:07,728 --> 00:03:10,348
Airbnb to help him achieve his ambition.
62
00:03:10,348 --> 00:03:13,138
So I was really fortunate
to be able to join in 2019.
63
00:03:14,158 --> 00:03:16,498
Little did I know I was gonna
be the CFO of Airbnb in the
64
00:03:16,498 --> 00:03:17,878
midst of a global pandemic.
65
00:03:18,136 --> 00:03:18,976
was a heck of a ride.
66
00:03:19,216 --> 00:03:24,096
But I feel like it's been an incredible
journey where I've really been able to
67
00:03:24,096 --> 00:03:27,916
kind of use all that experience from
engineering days, all the way back
68
00:03:27,916 --> 00:03:33,128
through Amazon to, help Airbnb, be now
a fortune 500 company, so I don't know.
69
00:03:33,148 --> 00:03:34,423
It's been an incredible ride.
70
00:03:35,318 --> 00:03:37,928
That's funny for a guy who
is often accused of being
71
00:03:37,928 --> 00:03:39,128
a little bit old school me.
72
00:03:39,393 --> 00:03:44,203
It is amazing to hear you say that
you Applied to something on amazon.
73
00:03:44,383 --> 00:03:45,423
com off the website.
74
00:03:45,753 --> 00:03:49,933
And I think it's interesting people see
Amazon for what it is today, but Amazon
75
00:03:49,933 --> 00:03:55,033
was not a, gigantic company back in 1999.
76
00:03:55,193 --> 00:03:55,533
It was.
77
00:03:56,718 --> 00:03:58,908
And certainly even if you
were years earlier than that.
78
00:03:59,008 --> 00:04:00,628
So I love hearing that.
79
00:04:00,928 --> 00:04:01,018
That's
80
00:04:01,023 --> 00:04:05,033
Yeah, well, I told my wife, she says,
look, you know, there's Amazon starting
81
00:04:05,033 --> 00:04:07,353
to sell CDs, they're selling DVDs.
82
00:04:07,383 --> 00:04:09,363
I said, like, this thing
is going to be huge.
83
00:04:09,693 --> 00:04:12,343
And yeah, little did I know
how amazing it was going to be.
84
00:04:12,938 --> 00:04:13,488
That's great.
85
00:04:13,488 --> 00:04:16,068
Well, you are in a new role
at Airbnb and one that you
86
00:04:16,118 --> 00:04:17,478
created or was created for you.
87
00:04:17,478 --> 00:04:18,798
And you can tell us a
little bit about that.
88
00:04:19,048 --> 00:04:22,358
And that's not something that happens
overnight and neither does elevating
89
00:04:22,768 --> 00:04:27,218
people on your team into roles
that you leave, which as CFO, Of
90
00:04:27,218 --> 00:04:29,648
Airbnb is a really, really big one.
91
00:04:29,648 --> 00:04:34,038
anyone who has dealt with or met
with Ellie knows she's an incredible
92
00:04:34,048 --> 00:04:36,948
finance leader and will very
admirably step into your shoes.
93
00:04:36,998 --> 00:04:40,698
those things don't always happen
and take sponsorship and effort.
94
00:04:40,728 --> 00:04:44,628
so can you talk to us a little bit about
that transition and the advice that you
95
00:04:44,628 --> 00:04:49,278
might give other senior leaders in finance
or otherwise as they develop their teams?
96
00:04:50,243 --> 00:04:50,503
Yeah.
97
00:04:50,503 --> 00:04:53,543
You know, it was really fortunate
when I came into Airbnb to have such a
98
00:04:53,543 --> 00:04:58,503
senior leader, like Ellie Mertz on the
team as part of my team and, you know,
99
00:04:58,573 --> 00:05:02,463
clearly knew that she was going to be a.
100
00:05:02,943 --> 00:05:04,863
Very capable CFO in the future.
101
00:05:04,863 --> 00:05:07,433
And we worked together to make
sure that she gained the kind of
102
00:05:07,483 --> 00:05:11,313
skills and experiences she needed
so that she could be, the next CFO.
103
00:05:11,313 --> 00:05:16,973
And so we were very intentional about
how we work together and that support.
104
00:05:17,016 --> 00:05:20,136
So I was fortunate in having her
as a partner and I couldn't be more
105
00:05:20,356 --> 00:05:25,476
proud about her success and not being
the new CFO, you know, this chief
106
00:05:25,496 --> 00:05:27,066
business officer role, it is new.
107
00:05:27,371 --> 00:05:33,321
we created it as a way for Airbnb
to enter in the next chapter
108
00:05:33,321 --> 00:05:34,571
that we have as a company.
109
00:05:34,611 --> 00:05:39,481
You know, we, we've been so focused
on working on just the core part of
110
00:05:39,481 --> 00:05:43,691
the business, and now we're working to
kind of expand beyond the core stays
111
00:05:43,691 --> 00:05:45,781
business into services and experiences.
112
00:05:46,141 --> 00:05:49,571
And in order to do that, it felt like
needed to create this chief business
113
00:05:49,571 --> 00:05:54,211
officer role to help stitch together and
work with all the different functions
114
00:05:54,211 --> 00:05:55,841
to ensure they're working together.
115
00:05:56,141 --> 00:06:00,501
To achieve our ultimate results, Airbnb
is different than many other companies.
116
00:06:00,501 --> 00:06:01,931
We're a functional company.
117
00:06:01,931 --> 00:06:05,021
So we have, you know, a design
function, a product function, a
118
00:06:05,021 --> 00:06:08,311
marketing function, an engineering
function, and all those functions
119
00:06:08,311 --> 00:06:11,261
roll up to Brian Chesky as our CEO.
120
00:06:11,611 --> 00:06:15,811
But as this chief business officer
role, I can help him ensure that all
121
00:06:15,811 --> 00:06:19,981
those functions are working together
to deliver outstanding results.
122
00:06:19,991 --> 00:06:22,311
And so I'm really excited
about the new opportunity.
123
00:06:22,311 --> 00:06:23,411
You've been in the role now about.
124
00:06:23,761 --> 00:06:27,411
nine months and it's been very
rewarding and challenging.
125
00:06:27,461 --> 00:06:29,501
And I look forward to, what we're
going to be doing in the future.
126
00:06:30,226 --> 00:06:33,026
Well, you've got all the hard skills to
bring lots of different perspectives to
127
00:06:33,026 --> 00:06:37,046
the table, you know, not just starting
in engineering, but finance and obviously
128
00:06:37,046 --> 00:06:38,696
a big focus on culture and people.
129
00:06:38,746 --> 00:06:43,146
So I think he's very lucky to have you in
that role and, on the path to different.
130
00:06:45,321 --> 00:06:47,151
Senior level positions
in corporate America.
131
00:06:47,151 --> 00:06:50,511
you need to pick up talent and skill
and allyship and a little bit of luck,
132
00:06:50,831 --> 00:06:54,121
a lot of work ethic, you know, it goes
into success let's pretend you're walking
133
00:06:54,121 --> 00:06:56,791
along the beach and seashells represent.
134
00:06:57,186 --> 00:07:00,506
Those different skills and attributes,
and you only have enough room in
135
00:07:00,506 --> 00:07:03,846
your pocket to collect three or
four skills or, or those attributes.
136
00:07:03,956 --> 00:07:06,126
And for purposes of my
analogy, those are seashells.
137
00:07:06,373 --> 00:07:08,293
So which ones are you
focused on picking up?
138
00:07:09,808 --> 00:07:13,328
Yeah, I'll go to the seashells in a
minute, but even maybe just step back
139
00:07:13,328 --> 00:07:17,228
that I think one of the best piece
of advice I ever got as I Entered my
140
00:07:17,228 --> 00:07:21,278
career was for my mom who told me just
to work for the best company you can
141
00:07:21,278 --> 00:07:22,898
work for at any given point in time.
142
00:07:23,208 --> 00:07:25,878
And then if you can do that,
you're going to get the skills
143
00:07:25,888 --> 00:07:26,988
and the training that you need.
144
00:07:27,298 --> 00:07:31,658
And I say that because that was that
example, I left Montana for Iowa
145
00:07:31,688 --> 00:07:33,148
to go work for Procter and Gamble.
146
00:07:33,358 --> 00:07:37,418
And it was an incredible experience
because the PNG gave me, I think
147
00:07:37,418 --> 00:07:42,078
the foundational skills that
have led to my success to date.
148
00:07:42,378 --> 00:07:43,588
So those seashells.
149
00:07:43,828 --> 00:07:47,698
Came from Procter and Gamble and
they really are some of the basics.
150
00:07:47,708 --> 00:07:52,628
So, I mean, it's super simple things how
to run an effective meeting, what are
151
00:07:52,628 --> 00:07:55,588
the basics of being a good team leader?
152
00:07:55,858 --> 00:07:57,208
I think that would be number one.
153
00:07:57,858 --> 00:07:59,668
Number two is just organizational skills.
154
00:07:59,688 --> 00:08:03,328
How do you kind of prioritize what's
most important and give it some
155
00:08:03,338 --> 00:08:09,048
structure so that you are always
working on the most important things,
156
00:08:09,048 --> 00:08:12,618
not always the most urgent things
and then just analytical skills.
157
00:08:12,688 --> 00:08:14,998
I think, how do you measure success?
158
00:08:15,408 --> 00:08:19,303
what are the measures and your
goals and how do you Know that
159
00:08:19,303 --> 00:08:20,813
you're making progress against it.
160
00:08:20,813 --> 00:08:26,603
I think all those skills I learned
early on in my career and I attribute
161
00:08:26,603 --> 00:08:29,483
them back to that first decision
to go work for Procter and Gamble.
162
00:08:29,903 --> 00:08:30,413
Interesting.
163
00:08:30,493 --> 00:08:33,903
What sort of, I mean, you see
people that maybe don't achieve
164
00:08:33,903 --> 00:08:35,483
the level of success that you have.
165
00:08:35,823 --> 00:08:40,643
Do you think there are folks
that covet the wrong attributes?
166
00:08:40,643 --> 00:08:43,793
And if they do, where
do you see a consistent.
167
00:08:44,293 --> 00:08:46,733
Missed area of focus for that.
168
00:08:47,578 --> 00:08:53,548
I think they, when I see some of the
issues is when somebody aspires to a
169
00:08:53,578 --> 00:08:59,498
title, a huge responsibility, and maybe
a small company too quickly, because
170
00:08:59,558 --> 00:09:01,458
then there's no one to learn from.
171
00:09:01,468 --> 00:09:03,238
Like, so yeah, they, they're the.
172
00:09:03,288 --> 00:09:06,248
Senior vice president of
a hundred person company.
173
00:09:06,528 --> 00:09:10,708
And, you know, they're not surrounding
themselves with the best people
174
00:09:10,708 --> 00:09:12,088
that they can go learn from.
175
00:09:12,568 --> 00:09:17,088
You know, you'd rather be a
engineering manager in a multi
176
00:09:17,088 --> 00:09:19,848
thousand person company, where you
get to surround yourself with these
177
00:09:19,848 --> 00:09:21,738
amazing people and learn from them.
178
00:09:21,988 --> 00:09:24,688
And I'd even say that at Airbnb,
we, you know, we have, I don't
179
00:09:24,688 --> 00:09:28,253
know, 6, 000 employees and we strive
to have some of Best employees
180
00:09:28,253 --> 00:09:30,033
in the world working for us.
181
00:09:30,113 --> 00:09:32,653
This functional structure I
talked about is we kind of,
182
00:09:32,733 --> 00:09:34,113
it's like a T shaped structure.
183
00:09:34,113 --> 00:09:38,523
It's broad where we have to collaborate
across functions, but it's deep and you
184
00:09:38,523 --> 00:09:40,253
have this deep functional expertise.
185
00:09:40,643 --> 00:09:44,173
And what's amazing about that is
that then you can learn from one
186
00:09:44,173 --> 00:09:46,673
another and build upon the skills.
187
00:09:47,053 --> 00:09:47,983
But if you go be this.
188
00:09:48,293 --> 00:09:51,523
SVP of a hundred person company
too early in your career.
189
00:09:51,773 --> 00:09:53,723
There's no one to kind of learn from.
190
00:09:53,723 --> 00:09:56,693
There's no structure to kind of give
you the skill and experience you need.
191
00:09:57,703 --> 00:10:01,753
It's one of the more frustrating things
that I see in the advisory part of my
192
00:10:01,753 --> 00:10:06,083
career over the years, You almost see
it coming like a train in the decision
193
00:10:06,083 --> 00:10:09,233
making that some people make and you
just, wish you could fast forward
194
00:10:09,433 --> 00:10:13,133
things a few years and show people the
Christmas future that somebody might
195
00:10:13,143 --> 00:10:17,843
have if they just stuck with the decision
that they had versus going for that SVB
196
00:10:17,843 --> 00:10:21,643
title or being adorned with something
that, Is more flash than substance.
197
00:10:22,193 --> 00:10:25,591
So you're we're talking about taking
things from the same playbook for sure.
198
00:10:25,731 --> 00:10:28,771
Well I don't know how much people
know about this, but this would be
199
00:10:28,771 --> 00:10:32,921
a good chance for you to extol the
virtues of Airbnb in Paris, but the
200
00:10:32,941 --> 00:10:36,141
summer Olympics are now in the rear
view mirror and Airbnb played a
201
00:10:36,141 --> 00:10:37,951
pretty big role as sponsor this year.
202
00:10:38,181 --> 00:10:39,161
And you were there.
203
00:10:39,466 --> 00:10:42,526
Maybe throughout the entire
Olympics, you could let us know.
204
00:10:42,526 --> 00:10:45,766
In fact for those who don't know it,
you were actually a torch bearer.
205
00:10:46,196 --> 00:10:51,016
So I definitely want to know about how
that felt and maybe a little bit about
206
00:10:51,016 --> 00:10:52,226
how this partnership came to pass.
207
00:10:53,076 --> 00:10:53,506
Sure.
208
00:10:54,066 --> 00:11:02,236
So we became a top sponsor of the
Olympics back in 2019 and had a nine year.
209
00:11:02,436 --> 00:11:04,286
sponsorship all the way through the L.
210
00:11:04,286 --> 00:11:04,406
A.
211
00:11:04,446 --> 00:11:07,986
28 Olympics, and then,
you know, we had COVID.
212
00:11:08,016 --> 00:11:12,706
So that challenged us with the
Tokyo Olympics where we couldn't
213
00:11:12,706 --> 00:11:16,146
actually have people together,
and then we had the challenge of.
214
00:11:16,431 --> 00:11:21,051
Beijing, which was a winter Olympics and
had its own kind of geopolitical issues.
215
00:11:21,391 --> 00:11:27,111
Paris has been the really first time
where we, I think, have had the full
216
00:11:27,111 --> 00:11:30,511
expression and the benefit of Airbnb
kind of sponsoring the Olympics.
217
00:11:30,511 --> 00:11:33,461
and if you kind of think back, what's
amazing about the Olympics is they're
218
00:11:33,461 --> 00:11:35,321
the ultimate hosted event, right?
219
00:11:35,321 --> 00:11:39,881
You have a city hosting people from
all around the world to go participate
220
00:11:39,901 --> 00:11:42,161
in this incredible community.
221
00:11:42,421 --> 00:11:43,991
Of athleticism.
222
00:11:44,061 --> 00:11:46,131
it's just the quintessential hosted event.
223
00:11:46,491 --> 00:11:51,361
And so, you know, with Airbnb being the
quintessential hosted company, where we
224
00:11:51,361 --> 00:11:54,411
want to be able to connect people from
all around the world in person, in real
225
00:11:54,411 --> 00:11:56,841
life, it's like, it's a perfect synergy.
226
00:11:57,161 --> 00:12:02,951
for, Paris specifically, we had over 400,
000 people staying in Airbnbs During the
227
00:12:02,951 --> 00:12:07,951
Olympics and the Olympics really couldn't
happen in the same way, if it wasn't
228
00:12:07,951 --> 00:12:12,051
for Airbnb, we made them accessible to
hundreds of thousands of people from
229
00:12:12,051 --> 00:12:13,501
all around the world and from France.
230
00:12:13,551 --> 00:12:14,711
we made them very affordable.
231
00:12:14,741 --> 00:12:18,291
So the cost of an Airbnb during
the Olympics was about the
232
00:12:18,291 --> 00:12:20,241
same as it was the year before.
233
00:12:20,561 --> 00:12:24,181
So it just enabled you know,
more people to experience it.
234
00:12:24,461 --> 00:12:26,031
And then when people do come.
235
00:12:26,111 --> 00:12:29,521
And stay in the Airbnb, they actually
also experienced the community.
236
00:12:29,521 --> 00:12:31,371
They experienced the
neighborhood they're living in.
237
00:12:31,871 --> 00:12:35,361
We actually had Airbnbs cause part of
the Olympics were not all in Paris.
238
00:12:35,381 --> 00:12:38,811
They were spread around the country to
somewhere on like Lille and somewhere in
239
00:12:39,161 --> 00:12:40,961
Bordeaux and somewhere down in Marseille.
240
00:12:40,961 --> 00:12:44,471
And so they were staying in
Airbnbs all around the country.
241
00:12:45,451 --> 00:12:46,331
It was incredible.
242
00:12:46,331 --> 00:12:48,881
And so yeah, I was there almost two weeks.
243
00:12:49,081 --> 00:12:51,931
It was super fortunate to
be able to carry the torch.
244
00:12:51,961 --> 00:12:52,341
And I thought.
245
00:12:52,452 --> 00:12:53,992
The energy was amazing.
246
00:12:53,992 --> 00:12:57,729
I carry the torch you kind of trot along
and say run with the torch, but you kind
247
00:12:57,729 --> 00:12:59,769
of trot along for a couple hundred yards.
248
00:13:00,069 --> 00:13:01,759
But it was this great
neighborhood called St.
249
00:13:01,759 --> 00:13:04,539
Denis, which is near where
the Olympic village was.
250
00:13:04,849 --> 00:13:08,989
and there were thousands of people lining
the streets, cheering on the torch.
251
00:13:08,989 --> 00:13:11,799
They have no idea who I am running
with the torch, but they were so
252
00:13:11,799 --> 00:13:14,119
excited to, see the torch run by.
253
00:13:14,491 --> 00:13:16,871
It is invigorating and energizing.
254
00:13:17,311 --> 00:13:20,541
I never expected it to be so amazing.
255
00:13:20,641 --> 00:13:21,411
That's awesome.
256
00:13:21,458 --> 00:13:25,028
Are there going to be the same
opportunities or different challenges
257
00:13:25,118 --> 00:13:29,478
in the cost containment part of
it for Los Angeles that you were
258
00:13:29,478 --> 00:13:33,038
able to somehow affect in Paris?
259
00:13:34,103 --> 00:13:35,143
you know, absolutely.
260
00:13:35,183 --> 00:13:38,393
I mean, again, we're going
to be able to house hundreds
261
00:13:38,393 --> 00:13:39,873
of thousands of people in L.
262
00:13:39,873 --> 00:13:40,183
A.
263
00:13:40,603 --> 00:13:43,133
They wouldn't really be able to hold
the games the same way without it.
264
00:13:43,333 --> 00:13:47,903
you know, was able to kind of
meet with the LA 28 Olympic team.
265
00:13:47,903 --> 00:13:54,643
And one of their objectives is to have
an expression of the community of LA
266
00:13:55,093 --> 00:13:57,393
and the actual different cultures of LA.
267
00:13:57,703 --> 00:13:59,843
It said that, that L.
268
00:13:59,843 --> 00:14:00,123
A.
269
00:14:00,143 --> 00:14:05,933
actually is home for the second largest
population of dozens of countries around
270
00:14:05,933 --> 00:14:09,383
the world, outside of the home country,
the second largest population of many
271
00:14:09,383 --> 00:14:10,673
of these communities are actually in L.
272
00:14:10,673 --> 00:14:10,733
A.
273
00:14:10,733 --> 00:14:13,713
It's incredibly diverse, and one of
the things we're going to be able to do
274
00:14:13,723 --> 00:14:17,328
with Airbnb is actually Have people stay
in those communities, experience those
275
00:14:17,368 --> 00:14:19,588
communities, eat at those restaurants.
276
00:14:19,948 --> 00:14:24,688
We have Airbnb experiences where you can
kind of learn about the culture and really
277
00:14:24,698 --> 00:14:27,378
engage in those cultures and stay there.
278
00:14:27,378 --> 00:14:28,968
And I don't know, it's super exciting.
279
00:14:28,968 --> 00:14:32,548
I think we had an incredibly
successful Paris Olympics games,
280
00:14:32,828 --> 00:14:35,398
and I think LA is going to just
take it to a whole nother level.
281
00:14:36,098 --> 00:14:36,648
That's awesome.
282
00:14:36,838 --> 00:14:39,968
So, you know, I've had conversations going
back a bunch of years some about things
283
00:14:39,978 --> 00:14:41,778
totally unwork related like volleyball.
284
00:14:41,858 --> 00:14:44,288
I mean, you're a volleyball
dad and I'm a volleyball dad.
285
00:14:44,698 --> 00:14:47,408
Your daughter's ascended to greater
heights than my kids did, but
286
00:14:47,478 --> 00:14:50,308
volleyball dads are volleyball
dads lots of people we know in
287
00:14:50,308 --> 00:14:52,608
common and more recently about how.
288
00:14:53,068 --> 00:14:56,838
I may be self annoying myself
as one of Airbnb's biggest fans.
289
00:14:57,308 --> 00:15:00,018
In fact, we were scheduling this
conversation or you agreed to this
290
00:15:00,088 --> 00:15:04,288
conversation while I was in an
Airbnb on Kauai, which is really
291
00:15:04,318 --> 00:15:06,128
kind of a fun type of thing.
292
00:15:06,188 --> 00:15:09,678
So, you know, as a consumer versus
the chief business officer, how do you
293
00:15:09,678 --> 00:15:14,048
describe the appeal to the experience
of staying in an Airbnb and, you
294
00:15:14,048 --> 00:15:18,238
know, what does your user experience
mean to you as an employee of Airbnb?
295
00:15:18,843 --> 00:15:19,223
Yeah.
296
00:15:19,613 --> 00:15:20,433
Well, a couple of things.
297
00:15:20,603 --> 00:15:23,593
I first started staying in Airbnbs.
298
00:15:23,623 --> 00:15:26,963
When I worked at Amazon, I was
leading finance for the international
299
00:15:26,963 --> 00:15:31,973
websites and in the summer I was
able to take my family to Europe and
300
00:15:31,973 --> 00:15:34,283
we lived on Airbnbs in community.
301
00:15:34,283 --> 00:15:35,873
So we lived in Paris for a summer.
302
00:15:35,873 --> 00:15:39,803
We lived in London for a summer and it was
amazing because by living in the Airbnb
303
00:15:39,803 --> 00:15:41,223
we had that we lived in the neighborhood.
304
00:15:41,563 --> 00:15:43,373
We were shopping at the
local grocery store.
305
00:15:43,373 --> 00:15:47,233
We had our favorite restaurants, our
favorite coffee shops, our favorite parks.
306
00:15:47,793 --> 00:15:52,653
And, you know, it was that ultimate
expression of that Airbnb is so great at.
307
00:15:52,653 --> 00:15:56,453
It's like part of being part of
the community, feeling at home.
308
00:15:56,748 --> 00:15:59,598
And not kind of just feeling
like you're an outsider.
309
00:15:59,598 --> 00:16:03,158
So really connecting and that's
what resonated with me at the time.
310
00:16:03,158 --> 00:16:04,118
That's what got me excited.
311
00:16:04,118 --> 00:16:07,668
When I first started talking about Brian,
about his vision for what it could be.
312
00:16:07,958 --> 00:16:12,268
And I think this is what we continue to
do an amazing job at, which is allowing
313
00:16:12,268 --> 00:16:17,358
people to kind of travel, but live like
a local, connect with the community.
314
00:16:17,598 --> 00:16:20,408
Really feel that sense of belonging.
315
00:16:20,758 --> 00:16:24,858
in the world, and I'm excited to
continue to do more and more of that.
316
00:16:26,138 --> 00:16:26,698
my wife.
317
00:16:27,233 --> 00:16:30,793
I was a very early adopter of
Airbnb and almost refused to
318
00:16:30,793 --> 00:16:32,003
stay in a hotel at this point.
319
00:16:32,323 --> 00:16:35,483
My wife, on the other hand, was not,
and she really kind of fought it for
320
00:16:35,483 --> 00:16:38,643
a little while, and now she's sort
of in the same boat that I am, which
321
00:16:38,643 --> 00:16:44,413
is, it just makes, it makes the life
experience much richer than going into
322
00:16:44,523 --> 00:16:48,343
a fairly sanitary, albeit lovely, hotel.
323
00:16:48,793 --> 00:16:52,763
I actually have three stays upcoming
between now and the end of the year
324
00:16:53,493 --> 00:16:54,603
in a couple of different places.
325
00:16:55,053 --> 00:16:59,093
And I always get excited about
walking into a new place.
326
00:16:59,783 --> 00:17:02,253
There's some familiarity about
staying in the same Airbnb,
327
00:17:02,253 --> 00:17:03,303
which is actually kind of cool.
328
00:17:03,303 --> 00:17:06,323
But what are the two or three
things that you appreciate when
329
00:17:06,323 --> 00:17:11,403
you walk into a new Airbnb or an
Airbnb that you've been at before?
330
00:17:13,028 --> 00:17:17,158
Well, one thing you may or may not
know, I'm actually an Airbnb host.
331
00:17:17,198 --> 00:17:21,928
I host a cabin here just outside
of Seattle near Crystal Mountain,
332
00:17:21,928 --> 00:17:23,068
Washington, Mount Rainier.
333
00:17:23,428 --> 00:17:28,448
And I also host a place in Palm
Springs and I, it gives you a nice
334
00:17:28,478 --> 00:17:30,388
appreciation of being on the other side.
335
00:17:30,388 --> 00:17:33,218
You know, one of the things that
I appreciate as a guest is like I
336
00:17:33,218 --> 00:17:34,738
said, feeling part of the community.
337
00:17:35,078 --> 00:17:38,778
So what I try to provide as a
host is a bit of that sense.
338
00:17:38,828 --> 00:17:41,028
So in the cabin that I have.
339
00:17:41,313 --> 00:17:45,013
You know, we have a, a pizza oven,
you know, that I you know, give them
340
00:17:45,013 --> 00:17:47,413
great, you know, pizza dough recipes.
341
00:17:47,413 --> 00:17:50,303
And we have some great hiking
trails and I introduced them,
342
00:17:50,303 --> 00:17:51,833
the best places to go hike.
343
00:17:52,518 --> 00:17:53,938
You know, we have our
favorite coffee shop.
344
00:17:53,938 --> 00:17:56,488
That's a few miles down the road
and make sure that they stop
345
00:17:56,488 --> 00:17:57,648
and get some ice cream there.
346
00:17:58,018 --> 00:18:00,778
And so, you know, I think that's
what I appreciate is kind of that
347
00:18:00,888 --> 00:18:03,658
sense of feeling like, Oh, I kind
of know this place, I'm part of it.
348
00:18:03,948 --> 00:18:07,588
And so as a host, I try to work
really hard to kind of give
349
00:18:07,588 --> 00:18:09,488
them that same kind of sense.
350
00:18:09,998 --> 00:18:14,128
I think the best days are those when
you connect with the host and they
351
00:18:14,408 --> 00:18:16,858
instantly make you part of that community.
352
00:18:16,908 --> 00:18:20,998
I have a number of Airbnb stays where
I still stay in touch with that host.
353
00:18:20,998 --> 00:18:24,598
And you know, if I'm back in that same
community again, I'd love to stay with
354
00:18:24,598 --> 00:18:25,948
the same host again in the future.
355
00:18:26,068 --> 00:18:31,628
That connection, I think, is truly unique
and not something that you get in a hotel.
356
00:18:32,293 --> 00:18:32,623
Yeah.
357
00:18:33,123 --> 00:18:36,433
So early in our conversation,
you mentioned that going into
358
00:18:36,433 --> 00:18:38,923
college, you thought maybe you
would go into architecture.
359
00:18:39,333 --> 00:18:42,793
You may not feel the same way now,
but what would you be doing if you
360
00:18:42,793 --> 00:18:44,443
weren't in a senior leadership role?
361
00:18:44,443 --> 00:18:45,213
Like you're in now?
362
00:18:45,813 --> 00:18:47,003
Would it be architecture?
363
00:18:48,478 --> 00:18:49,178
You know, actually,
364
00:18:49,278 --> 00:18:50,308
maybe it's what you're doing now.
365
00:18:50,363 --> 00:18:51,263
Yeah, no, it's fun.
366
00:18:51,263 --> 00:18:52,213
It's a great question.
367
00:18:52,313 --> 00:18:55,893
I actually, when I joined
Amazon, we said that all roads
368
00:18:55,893 --> 00:18:57,333
will lead to Vail, Colorado.
369
00:18:57,333 --> 00:19:00,763
I said, you know, this is going to be
incredibly successful career and I will
370
00:19:00,793 --> 00:19:05,003
then just retire to Vail and be a skier
or it's going to completely implode.
371
00:19:05,033 --> 00:19:07,583
In reality, I really liked what
I was doing and I felt like, and
372
00:19:07,583 --> 00:19:08,753
I've been doing it for many years.
373
00:19:08,763 --> 00:19:10,376
So I, neither of those has happened, but.
374
00:19:10,531 --> 00:19:12,751
I might go back and teach skiing again.
375
00:19:12,751 --> 00:19:14,215
I love, love being in the mountains.
376
00:19:14,265 --> 00:19:17,175
I love sharing an expertise with others.
377
00:19:17,225 --> 00:19:18,465
I love teaching.
378
00:19:18,815 --> 00:19:20,975
I think, it's an incredible sport.
379
00:19:21,015 --> 00:19:25,355
And I think you learn a lot about
life when you are an athlete and can
380
00:19:25,355 --> 00:19:27,490
kind of share Those skills of others.
381
00:19:28,265 --> 00:19:28,725
Love that.
382
00:19:29,155 --> 00:19:31,295
So I've been asking you
a bunch of questions.
383
00:19:31,295 --> 00:19:35,025
Now's the time we return the tables
and you get to ask me a question,
384
00:19:35,025 --> 00:19:38,205
and I don't know what it is, so
you can fire away, my friend.
385
00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,700
Well, again, I've been in this chief
business officer role now, eight months,
386
00:19:42,870 --> 00:19:47,830
brand new job role, never existed at
a big, you know, fortune 500 company.
387
00:19:47,930 --> 00:19:53,010
What advice would you give me to be
successful in this new, never done before?
388
00:19:55,095 --> 00:19:59,325
Well somebody said it, I didn't, but
you've got two ears and one mouth, and
389
00:19:59,335 --> 00:20:05,255
I've always approached my job listening
more than talking, and I think if you're
390
00:20:05,255 --> 00:20:10,990
in a new role, trying to create something
that has not been done before, The very
391
00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:17,840
best thing you can do is truly listen and
take in from everybody, even the people
392
00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:21,540
that you question, you know, there's lots
of smart people that you're surrounded by.
393
00:20:21,570 --> 00:20:25,650
And then there's always somebody that
Maybe it's a little bit off or maybe
394
00:20:25,650 --> 00:20:28,080
a little bit different, but I think
even that type of perspective can
395
00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:32,530
help you kind of shape the decisions
that you make when you make big and,
396
00:20:32,990 --> 00:20:37,540
important and costly recommendations for
a company in terms of their strategy.
397
00:20:37,590 --> 00:20:42,470
So I think whether it's life or
whether it's work, I just think
398
00:20:42,500 --> 00:20:44,624
listening is, a bit of a lost art.
399
00:20:45,034 --> 00:20:48,034
And I would, not that I need to tell you.
400
00:20:48,809 --> 00:20:50,189
What you need to do to be successful.
401
00:20:50,189 --> 00:20:52,789
You're incredibly successful, but
that would be probably the one piece
402
00:20:52,789 --> 00:20:55,559
of advice I would give someone in a
unique situation like you're in now.
403
00:20:57,044 --> 00:20:58,104
I love that.
404
00:20:58,144 --> 00:21:01,994
I think I a hundred percent agree that
listening that that's great advice.
405
00:21:02,004 --> 00:21:02,704
I appreciate it.
406
00:21:02,744 --> 00:21:06,744
Like being a little patient, like
coming to a new role, you could
407
00:21:06,744 --> 00:21:09,914
get in a real hurry to try to make
a lot of change and listening to
408
00:21:09,914 --> 00:21:11,864
start is, is I think great advice.
409
00:21:11,864 --> 00:21:12,244
I love that.
410
00:21:12,294 --> 00:21:12,664
Thank you.
411
00:21:12,929 --> 00:21:13,109
Yeah.
412
00:21:13,109 --> 00:21:17,524
The world likes to fill up space,
you know, like dead space or no
413
00:21:17,524 --> 00:21:20,609
noise, or, you know, whether it's
sticking in a picture or a photo.
414
00:21:21,229 --> 00:21:23,669
Or a video or a voice
or a noise or something.
415
00:21:23,669 --> 00:21:26,529
And I think sometimes just sitting
back and listening and letting
416
00:21:26,559 --> 00:21:31,152
silence, you know fill up the
space is a really good thing.
417
00:21:31,202 --> 00:21:33,216
So, big fan, big fans.
418
00:21:33,550 --> 00:21:35,760
So let's see I'm going
to let you get going.
419
00:21:35,811 --> 00:21:39,401
With one final question, because
the greatest bite of food I've ever
420
00:21:39,401 --> 00:21:41,431
had in my life has been in Montana,
421
00:21:42,171 --> 00:21:42,601
Wow.
422
00:21:42,611 --> 00:21:43,771
I'm, yes, I know.
423
00:21:43,811 --> 00:21:46,021
Have you, have you ever
spent any time in Kalispell?
424
00:21:46,391 --> 00:21:47,501
I've of course I have.
425
00:21:47,501 --> 00:21:48,801
But what's the restaurant or
426
00:21:49,081 --> 00:21:50,311
The DeSoto Grill.
427
00:21:50,861 --> 00:21:52,441
I have not been to the DeSoto grill.
428
00:21:52,461 --> 00:21:54,061
I'll be there probably this winter.
429
00:21:54,061 --> 00:21:55,451
So I'll have to go check it out.
430
00:21:55,991 --> 00:21:59,521
we had some friends that went up there
years ago, and we continue to order
431
00:21:59,521 --> 00:22:00,941
food from them and have it shipped.
432
00:22:01,451 --> 00:22:03,911
To us because it was so amazing there.
433
00:22:03,911 --> 00:22:04,601
They're BLT.
434
00:22:04,661 --> 00:22:07,671
So anybody who's listening,
if you plan a trip to Montana,
435
00:22:07,881 --> 00:22:09,761
don't fall asleep on Kalispell.
436
00:22:09,781 --> 00:22:12,244
It's amazing place um, and an amazing BLT.
437
00:22:12,314 --> 00:22:14,671
So Dave, I I appreciate your time.
438
00:22:14,671 --> 00:22:16,441
Thank you for sharing a
little bit of that with us.
439
00:22:16,681 --> 00:22:19,461
And I will look forward to
catching up with you on a personal,
440
00:22:19,501 --> 00:22:22,351
professional basis down the road
and good luck in this new role.
441
00:22:22,351 --> 00:22:24,251
And good luck with
Airbnbs continued success.
442
00:22:25,001 --> 00:22:25,581
Thank you, Derek.
443
00:22:25,581 --> 00:22:26,861
Really enjoyed the conversation.