CEO Diaries: Airbnb’s Founder Brian Chesky on Brutal Rejection, Great Leadership, and The Biggest Mistake Founders Make!

In this episode of The Diary Of A CEO podcast, Steven Bartlett interviews Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, about entrepreneurship, company culture, and leadership. Chesky shares an early rejection letter Airbnb received and reflects on the importance of entrepreneurs who believe they can change the world. He emphasizes the unique qualities founders possess: deep passion, permission to make significant changes, and the ability to rebuild the company if necessary. The conversation shifts to company culture, with Chesky sharing an email he sent to his company about designing the desired culture and highlighting that culture is shaped by the behaviors of leaders, hiring decisions, and the consistent reinforcement of standards. He stresses that a strong culture is a company's ultimate intellectual property, bonding people, resources, and strategy together.