Joe Gebbia

“I feel triumphant when our moms can use Airbnb without their technically inclined kids.”

“We believe that the best solutions come from solving your own problem. If you have a real problem, there's likely someone else who can relate. That's how Airbnb was born.”

“In a lot of ways, the real learning at RISD happened after-hours when you're working side by side with your colleagues.”

“Dog-fooding is using your own products so that you understand from inside out what it is you're providing the customers. It's another way to gain insights and to gain intelligence. You use it yourself; you eat your own dog food. Every time we do that, we discover something that we can improve.”

“Design has always been a driving force in my life: it's the lens through which I experience the world.”

“For me, one of my personal inspirations was designers in the mid-20th century named Charles and Ray Eames.”

“The story of Airbnb is really the underdog story in many ways.”

“We started Airbnb because, like many across the U.S. and in New York, we were struggling to pay our rent and decided to open up our living room to fellow artists coming to town for a design conference. Sharing our apartment allowed us to stay in our home and start our company.”

“You must have the ability to recognize good design and good user experience. These are core things at Airbnb. It doesn't matter which department you're in.”

“The sharing economy is out of the bag - and it's not going to go back in.”

“We're a community-driven brand, but at the same time, we want every host in every home to recognize that they're all individuals, and to use Airbnb as an expression of their individuality.”

“From natural disasters to the refugee crises, the impact we can have as individuals might seem limited. But as many of our hosts know, sharing your home for even a few nights can make a tremendous difference in someone's life.”

“Airbnb has proven that hospitality, generosity, and the simple act of trust between strangers can go a long way.”

“Staying at Airbnb listings gives me the opportunity to truly understand and experience the local culture of the countries I visit.”

“What people demand is what the policies serve.”

“Everything at Airbnb is a continuation of what it's like to be a guest in somebody's house. We think about how each stage makes people feel.”

“Scheduled shipping is one of many inventions that has made New York a global capital of innovation and creativity - from Willis Carrier's invention of air conditioning in Buffalo and George Eastman's breakthrough film technology in Rochester to the rise of hip-hop in the South Bronx and the world's first cell phone call in Midtown Manhattan.”

“As with any new and innovative industry, entrenched interests - particularly the hotel industry - have attempted to squash the home-sharing movement.”

“Given Miami's unique role in Airbnb's roots, I'm particularly proud of how South Floridians have embraced home sharing as an opportunity to earn supplemental income and catalyze economic development in their communities.”

“I think Pixar's done an amazing job integrating art and science. They really get this idea that art and engineering work side by side.”