The strategy of focusing on building an exceptional product and relying on word-of-mouth growth can work for most products, but it doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. While traditional growth channels like performance marketing and conversion optimization still matter, incorporating a product-centric approach can be beneficial. CEOs should actively engage with the product, ensure close collaboration among product teams, and leaders should be knowledgeable experts in their areas. It's essential to have teams focused on single tasks rather than spreading thin across multiple responsibilities to promote effective collaboration and productivity.
Brian Chesky is the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. Under Brian’s leadership, Airbnb has grown into a community of over 4 million hosts who have welcomed more than 1.5 billion guests across over 220 countries and regions. I had the privilege of working under his leadership, so it is a great honor to have him on the show. We discuss:
• How Airbnb has shifted their thinking on product management
• Why bureaucracy happens in companies, and how to avoid it
• The importance of founders diving into the details
• Why Airbnb moved away from traditional growth channels and what they are doing instead
• Airbnb’s newly released features
• How and why Brian encourages his team to set ambitious goals
• Why he says he still has a lot to prove
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