Aoife McArdle

Former Global Head of Business Affairs, Social Impact, Olympics & Paralympics Partnership, Airbnb

Aoife McArdle

Aoife McArdle

An innovation and disruption pioneer, Aoife McArdle was an early leader at Airbnb, working directly with Co-founder and CEO, Brian Chesky. She expanded regulations for home sharing and spearheaded cross-functional efforts that resulted in the implementation of the first ever home-sharing laws in the world. During that time, Airbnb European markets grew to 60% of the global business. She is an expert at navigating complex policy and risk for disruptive companies that are expanding globally and will share her take on what companies need to consider when they have to make difficult trade-offs between scale and risk.

Themes

Innovation and Disruption
Personal Leadership

Travels from

London, UK

Biography

It’s hard to think of a more quintessential story of innovation and disruption than Airbnb — the global platform that changed the way we think about staying in other people’s homes, which disrupted an incumbent industry. It pivoted and thrived during the pandemic and recently floated with a market cap of $100bn.

​At Airbnb, she pioneered and expanded regulations for home sharing and spearheaded cross-functional efforts that resulted in the implementation of the first ever home-sharing laws in the world. During that time, Airbnb European markets grew to 60% of the global business.

In 2016, Aoife became a founding leader of Airbnb’s Experiences business, leading Business Affairs, Social Impact and Diversity & Inclusion. She also initiated, led and closed Airbnb’s largest global partnership, a 10-year landmark deal with the International Olympic Committee, which will drive economic empowerment opportunities for millions of hosts, athletes and local communities during the next 4 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Aoife previously worked as European Legal Counsel at Apple and as Global Head of Commercial & Regulatory Affairs at Skype. During her time at Apple and at Skype, Aoife also saw huge growth and scale in her role including the launch of the iPod and the first partnership that enabled Skype on mobile.

Aoife is an Advisor and Board Member in the USA and Europe, as well as an angel investor. She coaches entrepreneurs and founders, prioritising female and minority founded companies.

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