Luis von Ahn, CEO and co-founder of Duolingo

This podcast episode features Luis von Ahn, the founder and CEO of Duolingo, who articulates his long-term vision for transforming education through a unique organizational culture favoring in-person collaboration and exceptional talent recruitment. He discusses the importance of maintaining a cohesive workforce, the challenges of remote work, and his commitment to nurturing a diverse yet unified team. Luis reflects on his personal journey from Guatemala to entrepreneurship, the evolution of Duolingo's approach to language learning, and its significant impact on global education, emphasizing motivation and resilience as keys to success. He concludes with insights on maintaining quality in hiring and the company's approach to growth, firmly rooted in kindness and long-term thinking, ensuring Duolingo's place as a leader in the future of education.

Outlines

Sign in to continue reading, translating and more.

Continue

Kleiner Perkins

00:00The Long View on Education and Duolingo's Unique Culture

The Long View on Education and Duolingo's Unique Culture

02:16The Importance of In-Person Collaboration and Duolingo's Contrarian Approach to Remote Work

The Importance of In-Person Collaboration and Duolingo's Contrarian Approach to Remote Work

03:57The Power of Culture and Recruiting Top Talent

The Power of Culture and Recruiting Top Talent

05:48The "Founder's Regret" and the Importance of Being Present

The "Founder's Regret" and the Importance of Being Present

07:43Duolingo's Talent Magnet: Beyond the Ivy League

Duolingo's Talent Magnet: Beyond the Ivy League

09:14Duolingo's Hiring Bar: Seeking Exceptional Potential

Duolingo's Hiring Bar: Seeking Exceptional Potential

10:29Luis's Personal Journey and the Roots of His Drive

Luis's Personal Journey and the Roots of His Drive

11:43The Unusual Circumstances of Luis's Upbringing and Its Impact

The Unusual Circumstances of Luis's Upbringing and Its Impact

13:47Luis's Unwavering Drive and the "Genius Award"

Luis's Unwavering Drive and the "Genius Award"

15:03The Importance of Upbringing and Maintaining Energy

The Importance of Upbringing and Maintaining Energy

16:47The Source of Luis's Energy and His Morning Routine

The Source of Luis's Energy and His Morning Routine

17:50The "Luis Dashboard" and Staying Grounded in Reality

The "Luis Dashboard" and Staying Grounded in Reality

19:41Navigating the CEO Bubble and the Importance of Ground Truth

Navigating the CEO Bubble and the Importance of Ground Truth

21:40Maintaining Efficiency and Avoiding the "Middle Management Trap"

Maintaining Efficiency and Avoiding the "Middle Management Trap"

24:34Duolingo's Impact on Language Learning and Human Behavior

Duolingo's Impact on Language Learning and Human Behavior

25:03The Key to Self-Directed Learning: Motivation

The Key to Self-Directed Learning: Motivation

26:35The Unexpected Key to Language Proficiency: Outgoingness and Embracing Imperfection

The Unexpected Key to Language Proficiency: Outgoingness and Embracing Imperfection

28:36The Decline of American Exceptionalism and English as the Global Language

The Decline of American Exceptionalism and English as the Global Language

30:37The Duolingo English Test and Luis's Personal Connection

The Duolingo English Test and Luis's Personal Connection

32:12Luis's Celebrity Status in Guatemala and the Power of Good News

Luis's Celebrity Status in Guatemala and the Power of Good News

33:40Duolingo's Impact on Hope and Empowerment

Duolingo's Impact on Hope and Empowerment

34:52Luis's Path from Academia to Entrepreneurship

Luis's Path from Academia to Entrepreneurship

36:10The Evolution of CAPTCHA: From Text to Computer Vision

The Evolution of CAPTCHA: From Text to Computer Vision

37:49From CAPTCHA to Book Digitization: The Birth of Luis's First Company

From CAPTCHA to Book Digitization: The Birth of Luis's First Company

39:52The Unexpected Acquisition by Google and the Future of Computer Vision

The Unexpected Acquisition by Google and the Future of Computer Vision

41:42Luis's Post-Acquisition Life and the Drive for Impact

Luis's Post-Acquisition Life and the Drive for Impact

42:50The Birth of Duolingo and the Long-Term Vision for Education

The Birth of Duolingo and the Long-Term Vision for Education

43:48Duolingo and the Future of Education: Traditional Schools vs. Self-Directed Learning

Duolingo and the Future of Education: Traditional Schools vs. Self-Directed Learning

45:46From Professorial to Superhero: Luis's Evolution

From Professorial to Superhero: Luis's Evolution

47:00Luis's Exercise Routine and the Importance of Health

Luis's Exercise Routine and the Importance of Health

48:00Public Speaking Tips from a TED Talk Veteran

Public Speaking Tips from a TED Talk Veteran

49:12The Power of Viral Marketing and Duolingo's "Love Island" Prank

The Power of Viral Marketing and Duolingo's "Love Island" Prank

50:24Duolingo's Marketing Philosophy: The Power of Experimentation and Long-Term Thinking

Duolingo's Marketing Philosophy: The Power of Experimentation and Long-Term Thinking

53:29Duolingo's Product Strategy: Quality Over Quantity

Duolingo's Product Strategy: Quality Over Quantity

55:01Duolingo's Key Ingredients for Success: Talent, Experimentation, and Long-Term Thinking

Duolingo's Key Ingredients for Success: Talent, Experimentation, and Long-Term Thinking

56:47The Trade-Offs of Slow Hiring and Duolingo's Commitment to Quality

The Trade-Offs of Slow Hiring and Duolingo's Commitment to Quality

58:03Duolingo's Culture of Kindness and the Importance of Hiring "Nice People"

Duolingo's Culture of Kindness and the Importance of Hiring "Nice People"

59:33Luis's Commitment to Duolingo and the Unfathomable Thought of Stepping Down

Luis's Commitment to Duolingo and the Unfathomable Thought of Stepping Down

1:00:44The Challenges of Early-Stage Startups and Luis's Focus on Impact

The Challenges of Early-Stage Startups and Luis's Focus on Impact