An organization built

on strong values
A Presentation for
Individual Dynamics & Leadership
Astha Chandodwala_ B001
ABOUT ME
• B.Sc.-M.Sc. In Cell and Molecular Biology from
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
• Dance and dramatics enthusiast
• Personality type: ENFJ
• Core values: Integrity, Gratitude, Happiness
• Strengths: Dynamic, Team player
 In its twelve years of existence, the Californian company has reshaped the world of travel like
no one ever before. Indeed, by introducing a new type of accommodation, namely short-term
rentals from person to person, the co-founders of Airbnb have challenged some of the age-
old principles of the hotel business. 
Airbnb has a strong adhocratic culture driven by its core values along with a a sense of
community.

MISSION: Create a world where anyone can belong anywhere

Airbnb Core Values

Champion the Embrace the Be a “Cereal”

Be a
Mission adventure Entrepreneur
Host
• Believe so much in the • Hospitality • Be open to new • Be frugally creative
mission of the company runs in ideas, willing to in transforming
that it feels as if it’s your blood move on from bold ambition to
life’s calling stumbles, and reality
excited to try again Source: https://careers.airbnb.com/
 Three key ingredients that created a strong culture at
1. Founders being
Airbnb
obsessed with values since Day 1
• Unlike other companies Airbnb
created their core values way

“You want diversity, of course, •

before they hired anyone.
The founders interviewed hundreds
but you don’t want diversity of of people for a single position and
hired his first employee (an
values.  ” •
engineer) only after six months.
They viewed him being much more
-Brian Chesky than a person who could just get
the job done.
Brian Chesky • It was more about alignment of
Co-founder and CEO of values.
Airbnb
When Peter Thiel invested $150m in Airbnb,
Chesky asked him, ‘What is the most important piece of advice for us?’

Theil responded – ‘Don’t f*** up the culture…’

One of the main reasons Theil invested in Airbnb was because of its values and
culture. He advised the founders to be considerate of their core values even after
they scaled-up.
Source: https://medium.com/@bchesky/dont-fuck-up-the-culture-597cde9ee9d4
Source :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfWgVWGEuGE&t=2718s (Stanford lecture 2014)

“Everyone at the company can recount the values
verbatim.”
-Brian Chesky
3. Thinking Long-term
During their early days, Airbnb decided to
reject the proposition made by Samwer
Brothers to buy out their European Airbnb
clone- Wimbdu .
Airbnb risked losing out on the European
travel market since, it would have been a
huge cost financially and culturally.
Ultimately Airbnb won because of their
core values, far-sightedness, better
community and a better service.
2. Having a strong sense of self
They did this through a codified set of core values
created by a small task force about three years in.
Airbnb uses these core values when:
• Hiring - A core values interview group vets all
candidates.
“If you had ten years left to live, would you take this
job?”
• Evaluating performances- Peer review process.
• Measuring success- “Are we achieving our mission”?
“I felt like we were missionaries and they were mercenaries. I
didn’t think they were doing it for the beliefs. They were doing it
for the money. I believe in a war, missionaries would outlast
and out endure mercenaries. ” –Brian Chesky
Source :https://marker.medium.com/what-seven-years-at-airbnb-taught-me-about-building-a-company-e1d035d49c56
https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/09/airbnb/
 Airbnb: Success Timeline
January Airbnb 2020
valuation at $35
Becoming a culture-first organization has Billion

helped Airbnb achieve many successes. Announced

Airbnb plus 2019
2018
Acquired Hotelnite;
Acquired travel start-up Trip4real; Announced Nattivo
Received funding of $555.5M; in Miami
Ranked #1 in Best workplaces by
Glassdoor 2017
Received funding of $475M; 2016
Revealed design revision to site and app;
Acquired Tilt, AdBasis,
Introduced new logo
Accomoble;
Received funding of $447.8M
2014
Reached 10 Million Bookings; 2015
Received funding of $1.5 Billion;
Received a funding of $150 M
Announced new “Business Travel
2012 Ready Badge” and host tools
Received funding of
$7.2M 2013 Announced European
Headquarters to be located
2010
AirBedandBreakfast.com in Dublin, Ireland
launched 2011
2008 Reached millionth booking,
Received funding of $112M;
2009 Won the “App” award;
Received funding of $20,000; Opened first International
Website changed to office in London
2007 Birth of an idea https://rubygarage.org/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-website-like-airbnb
Airbnb.com
Thank You!