They Lost 80% of Their Business. What They Did Next Changed Everything.

Bravery in business isn't always about taking a stand.
Sometimes, it's about staying standing when the ground shifts beneath you.

During the pandemic in 2020, Airbnb lost 80% of its business in eight weeks.

That would've sunk most companies.

But instead of folding, they chose a path rooted in brave leadership.

They cut $1 billion in costs.
They laid off 25% of their workforce but did it with unusual transparency, generosity, and care.

CEO, Brian Chesky, published the layoff letter publicly.
Gave employees laptops and health insurance.
And helped them find new roles, even if it meant losing them to competitors.

Then, they went back to their roots.

Instead of chasing growth, they focused on what made them different:

Community,
Connection,
Belonging.

By the end of 2020, Airbnb went public with one of the biggest tech IPOs of the year.

That's what courage looks like in business.

It's not about charging ahead blindly.
It's about making hard calls with humanity.
About leading with clarity, especially when certainty disappears.

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