From references to Hugh Hefner to learning from his five daughters and how to ace media interviews, this interview with Steve Hafner, CEO and co-founder of KAYAK, covers it all.

That, plus how the charismatic travel leader views the new world of talent through his unique set of nomadic eyes, the new tech he’s excited about and his company’s chances in Asia post-pandemic. Here are the key takeaways from the interview that was conducted by WiT’s founder Yeoh Siew Hoon at the Phocuswire Studio at Phocuswright in Phoenix, Arizona. Video here.

Born in Lima, Peru to a Swedish mother and American father, Steve Hafner, CEO of KAYAK, spent his early years in Costa Rica and Guatamela “and bouncing around between a bunch of different cities in the US as well as in Sweden”. And it is this early nomadic upbringing, he believes, that has shaped him as the man and leader he is today.

“I got a love of travel very early on but I also learned how to make friends quickly and to get a good read on people in terms of who I get along with and who I wouldn’t, and also, I got a love of experiences versus things,” he said.

This ability to read situations and people may also explain why, 10 years after its acquisition by Priceline.com for $1.8 billion, Hafner remains as CEO of the company he co-founded with Paul English in 2012.

Asked what’s the secret to navigating his own, independent path within a large corporation, Hafner said, “We sold to a really great company with really accomplished leadership who understood delegating responsibility and trusting the folks that they hired.

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