Core Viewpoint - The CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, maintains a startup management style despite the company's large scale, emphasizing direct involvement in personnel decisions and cross-level communication to stay connected with employees [2][4][5]. Group 1: Management Style - Chesky participates in hiring, firing, and promotions, treating employees as direct reports, which he believes is essential for maintaining company vision [2][4]. - He argues against traditional leadership advice that suggests CEOs should delegate to a top executive team, advocating instead for close connections with employees [2][4]. - The "founder model" is highlighted as a necessary approach in the AI era, allowing for rapid adaptation to changes [5]. Group 2: Historical Context and Adaptation - The "founder model" was adopted by Chesky after the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Airbnb's revenue, leading to a 72% drop and a 25% workforce reduction [5]. - Chesky sought advice from Jonathan Ive, a renowned designer, who suggested focusing on managing through work rather than just managing people [5]. - Other business leaders, such as Duolingo's CEO Luis von Ahn, have also embraced similar management philosophies, indicating a trend towards more hands-on leadership in successful companies [5][6].

Financial Performance Divergence - New Oriental's total revenue for the latest quarter was $1.18 billion, a slight decrease of 2% year-on-year, but core education business revenue reached $1.04 billion, up 21.2% [2] - TAL Education reported a revenue of $610 million, a year-on-year increase of 42.1%, but its operating loss expanded to $16 million [3] - Duolingo's total revenue was $230.7 million, a year-on-year increase of 38%, with a net profit of $35.1 million, up 30% [4] - Gaotu's quarterly revenue was approximately $207 million, a year-on-year increase of 57.7%, with a net profit of $12.4 million [5] - NetEase Youdao's revenue was $1.3 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 7%, but operating profit surged by 247.7% to $104 million [5] Strategic Adjustments and Innovations - New Oriental's strategic adjustment led to a significant increase in its core education business, with overseas exam preparation and adult education providing growth drivers [2] - TAL Education emphasized a "demand-driven" offline expansion strategy, focusing on high-potential markets while enhancing online course retention through AI [3] - Duolingo's AI-driven model allowed for rapid course development, achieving a daily active user count of 46.6 million, a year-on-year increase of 49% [4] - Gaotu's non-subject tutoring business saw an 80% growth, supported by AI tools that improved operational efficiency [5] Technological Transformation - AI is reshaping content production logic, with Duolingo developing 148 language courses in a short time using AI tools [6] - New Oriental introduced AI assessment tools for essay scoring and oral correction, optimizing operational costs [6] - The competition in the education sector is increasingly reliant on the maturity of data platforms rather than just content or channel advantages [8] Market Dynamics and Trends - The adult education market is experiencing a resurgence, with New Oriental's adult and university business growing by 17% year-on-year [10] - Quality education is evolving from a compliance-driven choice to a user-recognized value service, as seen in the growth of non-subject tutoring courses [11] - New Oriental's overseas exam preparation and learning consulting business remains a crucial revenue pillar, with a year-on-year growth of 7.1% [12] Challenges and Future Outlook - The "double reduction" policy continues to impact the industry, with some companies facing profit declines due to regulatory pressures [13] - The education sector's technology investments are characterized by long-term returns, requiring management to balance between spending and profitability [14] - The demand for education is shifting towards capability cultivation, necessitating a reconfiguration of product logic by educational institutions [15]