Quotes from Belinda Johnson

It's important for anyone working at a hyper growth company such as Airbnb to embrace learning and be open in order to keep pace with the changing environment.

Most of my mentors in my early career were men; I'm happy to see today the partnership between the newer generation coming through and more senior women leaders helping others advance their careers.

In my spare time, I volunteer at my daughters' schools so I can stay involved with the activities and parent/teacher community.

Lead by example. Women often wait for permission instead of acting, and I try to encourage bold action.

I'm in bed by 10, but I may not actually go to sleep until 11. It doesn't take long. I just breathe in and out maybe 10 times, and that does it.

After law school, I put on my power suit and worked at a series of law firms. By the time I was at my third in six years, it dawned on me that a traditional law job wasn't for me.

In the morning, I look at my calendar and think about whether things that aren't critical can be moved to the next week.

While Airbnb cannot singlehandedly level the playing field for women, I believe we can play a role in enabling women around the world to follow their passions and design the lives they want.

When I pull my hair back in a ponytail, that's how you know I'm having a hard day.

There was a time when people thought our hosts weren't collecting and remitting taxes, and we've been very proactive about going out and trying to solve this.

It's important to contribute to group discussions, but if all you're thinking about is when you'll get the opportunity to speak - and stressing about whether you'll sound smart - you won't be fully engaged in the conversation.

Homesharing is about dialogue, not disruption.

I don't necessarily think about being a woman as I make decisions, but I do value diversity of opinion and encourage others to speak up and do their best work.

When I went into a start-up in tech, I knew I could always go back to a law firm.

I think it takes a unique temperament for a lawyer who wants to go to a start-up, because generally, by nature, it's a high-risk environment.

Every woman who proves that it is not about gender but about excellence paves the way.

I wholeheartedly believe that travel leads to open minds and contributes to a better cultural understanding and acceptance of people from around the world.

The advice I give is that, tempting as it is, getting the training you can get from law firm experience is really invaluable. It teaches you not just what you know but what you don't.

I'm thankful to be in a position in my career where I can advocate for better policies and partner with future generations, like my daughters, to be a voice for change.

I'm always moving furniture and things around in my house.

At a well-run company, good ideas are embraced no matter where they come from.

Programs that encourage mentorship, workshops that teach women how to self advocate, and even employee resource groups that are focused on women in the workplace are all very powerful outlets that foster safe-space conversations.

As anyone who has started a company knows, it's pretty common not to see any income for months.

When I learned about Airbnb, I was like, 'Wow, this is an amazing, new way to travel; it's about community, and there's a lot to figure out to clear the way,' so I was really drawn to that.