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Luis von Ahn

05/10/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

At Duolingo, we have a rule that it's better to have a hole in the organization than to hire someone who is not a good fit, which has helped us maintain a positive culture.

Video

View From The Top with Luis Von Ahn, Cofounder and CEO of Duolingo

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

View From The Top with Luis Von Ahn, Cofounder and CEO of Duolingo

05/10/25

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Duolingo is known for its quirky, mission-driven, and deeply human culture, and I don't foresee that changing as AI takes a bigger role in the company.

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Going public has elevated Duolingo's operations, forcing us to operate at a higher level and maintain a cleaner organizational structure.

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It's essential to be disciplined about hiring; I prioritize finding candidates who align with our values, even if it means waiting longer to fill a position.

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It's crucial to bring in the right people as you build a company, ensuring they are skilled in their roles and fit well within the culture.

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To maintain cultural consistency as we scale, we hire people who already fit the culture we want, focusing on characteristics like intrinsic motivation and low ego.