How Airbnb Survived the Pandemic by Cutting 1900 Jobs

Startup Stories with Fexingo: Conversations About Founders, Funding, and Building Companies from Zero · Jun 28, 2026 · 7m · transcript

When COVID-19 wiped out 80 percent of Airbnb's business in eight weeks, CEO Brian Chesky made a painful choice: lay off 1900 employees with a severance package that became a case study in compassionate leadership. Lucas and Luna break down the three principles behind that decision — radical transparency, generous support, and preserving the core — and explore how the company rebuilt to a record IPO just 18 months later. They also discuss what other founders can learn about crisis communication and long-term brand loyalty when you treat people right on the way out.

#Airbnb #BrianChesky…