201 - Thriving with Hearing Loss in the Corporate World: Discussion with Monica Dreger of Airbnb

Monica Dreger, the Global Head of Research at Airbnb, brings a unique blend of intuitive insight and finely honed listening skills to her career, rooted in her background in behavioral psychology. Her professional journey has been marked by a dedication to understanding consumer behavior and strategic planning for renowned brands like Mattel, Nickelodeon, and Unilever. However, alongside her successes, Dreger's personal experience with hearing loss has been a defining aspect of her life. Growing up in Europe, she initially didn't recognize her hearing difficulties until returning to the United States for college, where the absence of subtitles while watching TV with roommates highlighted her hearing was not typical. This realization spurred her journey to seek help and normalize the use of hearing aids, ultimately leading to her advocacy for hearing health awareness. Monica highlights the transformative impact of modern hearing aids, which have significantly improved her daily life with features such as discretion, Bluetooth connectivity, and freedom from battery anxiety. As both an advocate for hearing health and a Widex Sound Ambassador, Monica encourages others to advocate for their needs and foster supportive environments in the workplace and beyond. Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). - https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing - https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing - https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/