What does it take to navigate L&D growth in fast-paced, ever-changing environments while fostering cultures of learning, empowerment, and growth?
In this episode of The Intelligence Amplifiers, host Marko Gargenta sits down with Maddie Combs, Head of Professional Development at Adyen, to explore her career journey and the lessons she has learned from shaping learning and development (L&D) programs at two globally recognized companies—Airbnb and Adyen.
From building behavior-change programs and mentoring future leaders at Airbnb to driving professional development and fostering a feedback-driven culture at Adyen, Maddie shares actionable insights on how L&D can empower employees to take ownership of their growth while navigating organizational change.
🔑 Building a Career Through Curiosity and Exploration
Maddie’s journey into L&D was anything but conventional. Starting as a customer experience agent at Airbnb, she quickly transitioned into various roles that allowed her to explore her strengths and curiosity. Her career highlights a key lesson: you don’t need a clear five-year plan to succeed. Instead, embrace exploration and focus on short-term milestones that keep you moving forward.
Her first major opportunity came when she joined a secretive startup-within-a-startup project at Airbnb called Magical Trips (now Airbnb Experiences). There, she learned how to build something from the ground up, navigate ambiguity, and collaborate in a fast-paced, innovative environment. These experiences paved the way for her eventual move into L&D.
Featured Quote:
“I’ve never worked backward from a specific five-year plan. I set shorter-term milestones and stay open to where curiosity takes me. Often, the best opportunities are the ones you don’t even know exist yet.”
Maddie’s approach to career development is rooted in optionality. By staying open to new opportunities and focusing on building transferable skills, she has been able to navigate her career with confidence and adaptability.
🛠️ Lessons from L&D at Airbnb
At Airbnb, Maddie transitioned from customer experience roles to a spot on the L&D team, where she helped design and execute transformative programs. Two key initiatives she worked on include:
- Manager Onboarding Program: Maddie played a pivotal role in creating Airbnb’s first manager onboarding experience, focusing on helping new and transitioning managers succeed. The program addressed key challenges managers face, from building strong teams to understanding Airbnb’s unique culture.
- Behavior-Change Training: Maddie helped design a behavior-change program for technical leaders. This program used role-playing and feedback models to simulate high-stakes conversations, creating a safe space for leaders to practice and improve. The result? Net Promoter Scores (NPS) in the 90s and a lasting impact on how managers engaged with their teams.
Maddie emphasized the importance of tailoring programs to fit the company’s culture. At Airbnb, this meant reinforcing core values like psychological safety, feedback, and open communication.
Featured Quote:
“At Airbnb, we focused on creating a culture of psychological safety where people felt empowered to give and receive feedback. Building that foundation allowed our leaders to drive impact through their teams.”
🌍 Transitioning to Adyen: A Global Perspective
After nearly eight years at Airbnb, Maddie sought a new challenge and joined Adyen, a global FinTech leader. Moving from a hospitality-focused, U.S.-based tech giant to a European-headquartered financial technology company was a deliberate step for Maddie. It offered her the chance to immerse herself in a new culture and tackle a different set of challenges.
One of the standout features of Adyen’s culture is its formula, a set of guiding principles that include “create your own path” and “talk straight without being rude.” Maddie found these principles deeply aligned with her personal values and professional philosophy.
At Adyen, Maddie focuses on:
- Feedback Culture: Developing programs that encourage open and constructive feedback.
- Professional Development: Empowering employees to take ownership of their growth through the “Own Your Growth” initiative.
- On-the-Job Learning: Innovating ways to measure and enhance learning that happens in the flow of work.
Featured Quote:
“You can’t control who your manager is, but you can control how you invest in your own development. Learning is about taking ownership and being intentional about your growth journey.”
🌟 Key Takeaways from Maddie Combs
✅ Embrace Curiosity Over Certainty: Instead of fixating on rigid long-term plans, focus on exploring new opportunities and staying adaptable.
✅ Foster Feedback Culture: A strong feedback culture drives both individual and organizational growth.
✅ Own Your Growth: Take responsibility for your development by leveraging the tools and opportunities available to you.
✅ Tailor Programs to Culture: Effective L&D programs align closely with a company’s core values and operating principles.
✅ Learn from Change: Rapid change can be overwhelming, but it’s also an opportunity to grow and innovate.
🎧 Why Listen to This Episode?
Whether you’re an L&D leader, a career explorer, or someone passionate about building learning cultures, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration.
Maddie’s story demonstrates the power of curiosity, exploration, and resilience in shaping both personal growth and impactful L&D programs. From managing change to creating innovative development strategies, Maddie’s journey offers lessons for professionals at every stage of their career.
🔗 Connect with Maddie Combs:
🔗 Connect with Marko and PlusPlus:
Website: PlusPlus
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