Summary
Peter Coles, Airbnb's Head Economist for Policy and Director of Data Science, shares his unconventional journey from a public school background to a PhD in economics. He discusses his experiences in academia, including teaching at Harvard and working with a Nobel Prize winner, before joining eBay and then Airbnb. Coles highlights his fascination with marketplaces, the importance of data science in decision-making, and how Airbnb collaborates with academic researchers. His career reflects a balance between theory and practical application in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.