Bola Akinsanya

Revenue and Operations Executive

AI-Enabled Growth | Marketplace Scale | Revenue Architecture | MBA

I build revenue and operating systems that turn early traction into scalable, profitable growth across global marketplaces, tech platforms, and AI-native businesses.

Executive Summary

With 15+ years of experience scaling marketplace and platform businesses from expansion stage through post-IPO scale, I am a critical asset with a unique blend of product, operations, and growth leadership expertise. At Airbnb, I was selected into multiple leadership roles to build and scale new businesses across Experiences and Global Guest and Host Services. My work has focused on revenue architecture, supply and demand engines, operating model design, growth and marketing investments and Agentic AI workflow leverage.

I lead cross-functional teams to translate product capability, customer behavior, and data signals into repeatable revenue systems, disciplined operating cadence, and measurable growth outcomes.

  • Designed and scaled acquisition and revenue engines using automation and ML assisted workflows combined with human quality controls. Focused on improving unit economics, speed, and marketplace quality at the same time.

    Built structured funnels, vetting systems, and supply pipelines that converted fragmented manual processes into repeatable operating systems.

  • Owned segment level P&L inputs and growth strategy across large global (EMEA, APAC, and NAMER) portfolios. Delivered multi-year growth through supply density strategy, funnel optimization, and targeted capital allocation.

    Translate market signals and customer behavior into execution plans tied to revenue, margin, and marketplace health metrics.

  • Led global organizations across Product, Engineering, Data Science, Legal, Finance, Marketing, Trust, and Operations.

    Established governance frameworks, performance management systems, and operating cadence that enabled faster decision making and aligned execution across functions.

  • Rebuilt early stage and underperforming growth engines into structured, scalable operating models.

    Deep experience with two-sided marketplaces, supply constrained categories, product led growth, and AI influenced cost structures.

Core Executive Capabilities

Agentic AI and Operating Leverage

Most companies struggle to extract true value from their AI investments because they are slow to adapt. Or focus on copilots and email optimizers that do not bring leverage for business, product, and operational teams. Leverage is compounded by adaptive leadership that designs for value creation within the realities of large established or nimble and fast moving companies. Systems comprehension, thinking, and design are what bridge impact drivers with operating model and governance.

My work has focused on building teams with automation and agentic processes as native to success. We run lean and deliver outsized impact in product operations, supply acquisition, marketplace balancing, and growth.

Selected Experience

Airbnb | Multiple Executive Leadership Roles | 10 Years

Selected repeatedly to build or restructure high impact growth businesses across Airbnb’s global platform.

Global Director, Services Revenue Operations

2024 - Current

Built and scaled AI assisted supply acquisition engine for Luxe and Services marketplace.

Impact highlights

  • Delivered 5x y/y revenue growth in the Luxe guest services segment

  • Scaled the broad guest services marketplace to 10,000+ providers across 280 markets in 100+ countries

  • Led global cross functional launch programs and high visibility partnerships with the Olympics

  • Built operating model, funnel architecture, and growth governance structure

Director, Growth (Core Homes) North America

2021 - 2024

Owned regional growth strategy and P&L inputs for North America segment.

Impact highlights

  • Accelerated supply growth 3.2x within nine months

  • Drove 2x host growth through Co-Hosting and Ambassador programs

  • Repositioned region for resilient post-pandemic growth

  • Reallocated investment and restructured teams around highest yield segments

Global Director, Scaled Operations, Experiences

2015 - 2021

Built and led global supply and growth for Experiences from launch to scale.

Impact highlights

  • Scaled supply more than 20x from launch to peak expansion.

  • Reduced marginal acquisition cost per approved listing to near zero through automated and ML assisted processes

  • Built centralized capability center in India, while scaling high performing growth teams across EMEA and APAC

  • Designed structured vetting and quality systems combining automation and human review to deliver 95% 5-star reviews

  • Harvard Data Science Executive Learning in Agentic Ai

    Havard Data Science

    Agentic AI Executive Learning

  • Babson MBA with entrepreneurship specialization

    Babson College

    MBA in Entrepreneurship

  • Bachelor's Degree

    University of Alabama

    Bachelor's Degree in Business

Google Inc.

July 2012 - April 2014 | San Francisco

Strategic Partner Manager

Built multi-million dollar revenue deals leading adoption of Google and DFP monetization tools with publishers and commerce platforms.

Meebo Inc.

October 2010 - June 2012 | Mountain View

Account Executive

Early revenue leader, generating millions through ad tech and strategic advertising tech partnerships. Company acquired by Google.

Wall Street Journal Digital

Digital Sales Planner

July 2008 - October 2010 | Atlanta

Built the digital advertising operating system and managed the relationships of Fortune 100 brands, resulting in $50M+ in yearly revenue.

How I work with Executive Teams

I work with CEOs and executive teams to:

  • Translate strategy into operating systems

  • Align cross functional execution around revenue goals

  • Build measurable operating cadence and accountability

  • Improve growth velocity by optimizing and managing P&L

  • Turn experimental growth into repeatable performance