To Succeed in AI, You Need the Right Mindset
The companies that figure out AI first will be the ones with the most curious teams.
When I was at Airbnb, we cared a lot about culture and the DNA of the company. So much so that every new hire had to pass an interview with two “cultural ambassadors” before getting an offer. There was about 100 of them and I was one.
Our job wasn’t to quiz people on their resume, but to figure out if they could hustle like an entrepreneur, if they could 'be a host,' and also whether they had a growth mindset.
What does “growth mindset” mean? It’s the opposite of “fixed mindset.” Fixed mindset people believe their value is what they already know, their past experience and their expertise. Because this is their value, they hold onto it and protect it. Taking risks means potentially looking bad. Trying a new role is scary. They want to run the same playbook over and over.
Growth mindset people believe their value is their ability to learn. Failure isn’t failure — it’s data. They iterate. They figure it out and are eager to take risks. They aren’t afraid to give away their legos.
One of the questions we used to ask: What’s something you’ve learned in the last six months, personally or professionally? It’s a simple question, but quite revealing.
The growth mindset people have no problem answering. Something like, “I’m learning Spanish” “I’m learning guitar” or “I’ve been reading about typography” The specifics aren’t important. What matters is that they’re in motion. They’re curious. They’re growing as people.
The fixed mindset people? They fumble. Or they can’t think of anything and often remark about being too busy to take on a project. And it’s not because they’re unintelligent, it’s because learning isn’t a priority. Growth isn’t a habit.
AI is changing every month. Genuinely. The playbooks don’t exist yet. The best practices are being written in real-time by people who are diving in, getting their hands dirty, and iterating.
In the product world, you’re vibe coding instead of writing a PRD. Better result, totally different skill. Six months from now, it might be something else entirely.
The people thriving in this new AI environment aren’t the ones with the most experience or the most credentials. They’re the ones who are comfortable not knowing yet. The ones who see a new tool, try it, break it, and figure it out.
If you’re a leader trying to get your team to actually adopt AI and be productive with it, this is the real question to ask: Do I have growth mindset people on my team?
If your team is full of people who are protecting what they already know, they’re going to be left behind. AI rewards the people who iterate, and punishes the people who wait.
The good news: growth mindset is a skill you can build. The question is whether you’re building a culture where learning is expected and rewarded, where trying something and failing at it is celebrated rather than penalized.
Start simple. In your next 1:1s, ask the question. What have you learned in the last six months?
The answer might surprise you, but it’ll also tell you where to start.