Brian Chesky

Brian Chesky is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Airbnb, a global online marketplace that has transformed the travel and hospitality industry. Chesky holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in industrial design from Rhode Island School of Design. His design-driven approach has influenced Airbnb’s culture, product development, and community, fostering a system of trust that enables people to share spaces and establishing a business model centered on connection and belonging.

The founding of Airbnb began when Chesky moved to San Francisco and, unable to pay rent, he and co-founder Joe Gebbia rented out air mattresses in their apartment to attendees of a sold-out design conference. This solution evolved into a global enterprise. After participating in Y Combinator and securing early investment, Chesky built Airbnb into a Fortune 500 company. Under his leadership, the platform has grown to include millions of hosts and billions of guests across more than 220 countries and regions. Airbnb’s initial public offering established Chesky as a significant figure in entrepreneurship and technology.

Chesky’s leadership faced a major test during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Airbnb experienced a sharp decline in revenue and reduced its workforce. Chesky responded by restructuring the company, centralizing product planning, and returning to a hands-on management style. The company subsequently recovered and achieved record revenue. His approach to crisis management and leadership has been widely discussed, including in a talk at a Y Combinator event that contributed to the concept of "founder mode," emphasizing deep engagement and agility in startup leadership.

Chesky has received recognition from Time Magazine, Forbes, and San Francisco Business Times, and was appointed Ambassador of Global Entrepreneurship by President Barack Obama. Airbnb has appeared on the CNBC Disruptor 50 list multiple times. Chesky has overseen the expansion of Airbnb’s offerings into services and experiences, positioning the platform as a comprehensive travel and lifestyle destination. He has also advocated for the integration of artificial intelligence into Airbnb’s platform, emphasizing the importance of adaptive leadership in the technology sector.

In addition to his business activities, Chesky is active in philanthropy. He joined the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes, and pledged $100 million to the Obama Foundation to launch the Voyager Scholarship, supporting college students pursuing public service careers. Chesky has also donated to nonprofit organizations supporting frontline workers and has been recognized by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. As a public speaker, Chesky addresses topics such as entrepreneurship, design thinking, leadership, and technology, drawing on his experience in the travel and hospitality industry.