E156 - The Airbnb India & SEA journey w/Amanpreet Singh (India & SEA Head, Airbnb)

The India head and Southeast Asia head of Airbnb, Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, appeared on the Indian Silicon Valley Podcast, discussing his career journey and the growth of Airbnb in India. Bajaj praised the sharing economy model of Airbnb and mentioned that although initially there were concerns about welcoming strangers into homes, the platform has managed to instill a sense of reliability and trust amongst users. He underlined how the company localized its approach for the Indian market, drawing upon the inherent hospitality and entrepreneurism of Indian culture. He also stressed the unique aspect of connection and experiences that Airbnb offers beyond just hosting, as an integral part of its appeal and success. 00:00 - Introduction 10:26 - Birth Of E-commerce In India 20:20 - Choosing Airbnb 30:06 - Building Trust with Airbnb 39:43 - Learnings In Expanding 49:40 - Unique Strategies For Growth In India 59:44 - Covid-19 Challenges 1:09:53 - Leadership Lessons