Agoda in 20 years: In Conversation with Our Co-Founder and First Chief Financial Officer, Bryan Lewis

To celebrate Agoda’s 20th birthday, we brought together former and current leaders for a conversation reflecting on our unique culture and the evolution we’ve experienced over the years.

Here, Mai-Linh Bui, our Chief Financial Officer, speaks with Bryan Lewis, one of Agoda’s founders and former CFO, CMO and CCO (2005-2010), who now serves as CEO of global payments company EML. Together, they revisit Agoda’s early days, discuss the company’s evolution, and share lessons that have continued to shape our journey.

How would you describe the early days at Agoda?

Bryan: It was very close-knit: a small, family-like atmosphere that was also incredibly chaotic and challenging. It was a startup, so there weren’t many of us. Every day was exciting; I couldn’t wait to come to work. One of my main memories is when there was a coup in Thailand right outside our office. We had to frantically pack up, move the servers on the back of a moped and set up in a hotel around the corner. We operated the whole company out of an Italian restaurant for three or four months.

You held multiple roles at Agoda, as CFO, CMO, and CCO at Agoda. How did you juggle all those responsibilities, and what did you learn?

Bryan: I’m a finance person foremost and was hired as CFO at a difficult time in Agoda’s startup phase when our survival was in question. I ended up absorbing marketing and other functions out of necessity and the need to exert some control over the financials. I focused on building a really good team of people who knew what they were doing. Having marketing and finance under the same roof made life a lot easier, and it worked—just look at what the company is now.

Have you been following Agoda’s journey since you left? What stands out to you?

Bryan: Yes, I still see the seeds of things that were planted 20 years ago. A relentless focus on price. I perpetually book on Agoda because it’s mostly the cheaper option. As I’m still in fintech, I can see the fintech focus is also impressive; Agoda is the most admired fintech player in the travel space. And I see all the LinkedIn posts. It’s like having a child who went to Harvard; I’m incredibly proud. The leadership team is strong, and the core culture persists, even as the company has grown much larger and more complex.

What lessons did you learn at Agoda that you carry with you today?

Bryan: I only have one tattoo. It’s the “go” from Agoda’s logo. What I learned most from Agoda, and what I try to pass on, is just to go. Trust yourself and your team to solve problems as they arise. Don’t spend all your time thinking about what might go wrong. Just start.

How would you describe Agoda’s evolution over the past 20 years?

Bryan: When I started, there were 70 people. When I left, there were a couple of thousand. Now, there are close to 8,000. Inevitably, there’s more corporate structure, but the spirit of the company persists. The focus on people, willingness to invest in talent, and willingness to experiment and fail sometimes. That’s what I’m most proud of. No matter what I do after, I’ll never have that feeling of flipping the switch and knowing it was going to work. I feel like we dreamt the company into existence, and it’s incredibly satisfying to see smarter people pick up where we left off and expand in ways I never imagined.

Any final words for current Agodans celebrating the 20th anniversary?

Bryan: You’re working for an amazing company. Pause and appreciate it. The culture of speed, innovation, and success is more difficult to find outside of Agoda than you might imagine. Don’t just focus on the daily battles. Realize you’re in an elite group of people doing an amazing job. And to those I hired who are still at Agoda: hello, and I miss you all.

Join our Finance Team and be part of Agoda’s exciting next chapter in Fintech. Apply now.

Related Reads

• Agoda in 20 years: In Conversation with Our Co-Founder and Chairman, Robert Rosenstein
• Agoda in 20 years: In Conversation with Our First Chief Technology Officer, Joost Doevelaar
• Agoda’s Story: 20 Years of Bridging the World Through Travel
• “A Moment I’ll Never Forget”: Stories from Agodans’ 20-Year Journey
• How We Celebrated Agoda’s 20th Birthday