Chip Conley has disrupted the hospitality industry twice. First, at age 26 when he took an inner city motel and turned it into the second-largest boutique hotel brand in America, and second, when he joined Airbnb as a ‘Modern Elder’. Through his work at Airbnb, he noticed the increasing need to include more age diversity in the workforce. Modern Elders often feel less and less relevant, but there’s a lot of unique and untapped value their life experiences can bring to an organization. Find out more about Chip’s work and how he has incorporated social causes throughout his entire career.  

Key Takeaways:

[4:20] How did The Phoenix Hotel get started? 

[6:25] How did Chip become an ‘accidental intern’ at Airbnb? 

[10:45] Chip explains the backstory of how he has always incorporated giving back to local communities with each of his hotels. 

[15:20] What is Chip’s latest book, Wisdom at Work, all about?

[23:10] Chip believes it is important to have diversity, not just in gender or race, but in age as well. There’s a lot of value the younger and older generations can get from each other if they just mingled.

[28:55] What’s the Modern Elder Academy all about? 

[33:55] Modern Elder Academy gives over $1 million a year in scholarships to students.

[39:35] Chip shares his thoughts about Burning Man.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Giving Back Podcast

Chip Conley

Modern Elder Academy

Chip Conley on LinkedIn

Wisdom at Work, by Chip Conley

The Phoenix Hotel

Airbnb.com