Episode 13: Wavelength in conversation with Q Hamirani, former Global People Leader at Airbnb

Wavelength’s Adrian Simpson in conversation with Q Hamirani, former Global People Leader at Airbnb.

Episode 13: How Airbnb re-wrote the playbook on culture and values, with Q Hamirani

For curious business leaders

In this podcast we hear from Q Hamirani, former Global People Leader at Airbnb. Q talks about the culture and values of Airbnb, how they focus relentlessly on embedding those values across the entire business and how they are part of the DNA of the organisation. Indeed, did you know that every candidate at Airbnb has to go through two core values interviews? And if you fail one of those two core values interviews you cannot get through the interview process! Q talks best interview questions, about getting the balance right between attracting talent for culture fit and ensuring diversity, about the introduction of Airbnb’s all-inclusive Digital Nomad Programme – which became the essence of their Live and Work Anywhere programme, and the the importance of intentional connectivity in a virtual world.

Q shares why it’s all about pushing boundaries and doing things that hadn’t been done before.

Rather than top-down change initiatives involving huge teams, Catherine advocates for combining skill and will to guide people in their everyday thinking. When every voice is heard, every person is empowered and everybody takes action, the outcomes are extraordinary.​

Re-writing the playbook on culture and values

Hear how Airbnb re-wrote the playbook on ‘how to do layoffs’ with respect and empathy at the toughest of times, when they were forced to make huge layoffs following COVID. From one-on-one conversations for all those who were laid off, to demonstrating accountability from Brian Chesky in in-person meetings, to offering 12 months of healthcare coverage, to creating a new recruiting platform to support their people in finding new jobs. It didn’t matter what the ’norm’ was. It was all about building their own play-book, pushing boundaries and doing things that hadn’t been done before.

 

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