Maddie Combs | L&D Growth at Airbnb and Adyen

How do you design and implement leadership programs that drive growth and culture in global organizations?
In this episode, Marko Gargenta is joined by Maddie Combs, Global Head of Professional Development at Adyen, to explore her career journey and approach to leadership development at high-growth, global companies. Maddie reflects on her time at Airbnb, where she was part of the L&D team focused on Leadership Development, and shares insights into crafting impactful programs that align with business goals and cultural values.
The conversation covers Maddie’s experiences building manager onboarding and leadership development initiatives at Airbnb, and how she’s continued to innovate at Adyen, creating professional development programs tailored for individual contributors. Maddie also highlights the importance of psychological safety, feedback-driven cultures, and empowering employees to take ownership of their growth.
Topics include:
✅ Creating impactful leadership development programs
✅ Building a feedback-driven organizational culture
✅ Aligning professional development with business needs
✅ Manager onboarding and leadership development at Airbnb
✅ Empowering ICs through professional development at Adyen
✅ Navigating cultural differences between U.S. and European companies
✅ Lessons in internal mobility and career growth
✅ Balancing autonomy and structure in development programs
✅ And more…
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.c...
Connect with Maddie:
LinkedIn: / / maddie-combs-ab34b428
Connect with Marko and PlusPlus:
Website: plusplus.co
LinkedIn: / / markogargenta