Brian Chesky on Making Offices a Strategic Advantage

Airbnb cofounder Brian Chesky believes that a thoughtfully designed office can be a unique edge for startups. “A really cool, interesting space can be a huge differentiator for hiring people. You’ll also spend more time in your office than you will at your home so it’s deeply important that people are comfortable and happy,” Chesky explains.

This philosophy is echoed by Keith Rabois, who in his Stanford lecture said, “You must have your own office. I don’t believe ever in shared office space. Peter Thiel has said that ‘every good startup is a cult’ and it’s really hard to create a cult if you’re sharing space with people.”

While every company has to balance resources carefully, Chesky advises founders to think creatively about office design rather than seeing it simply as a cost center. The goal isn’t to overspend, but to create an environment that gives the business a recruiting and cultural advantage—a space where employees genuinely want to spend their time.