12 operating principles that shape our innovative culture

Duolingo's operating principles are more than just words on a page. They are core beliefs that support our promise of high-quality education for all and nurture the environment of innovation, excellence, and lifelong learning that we are quite proud of! So, what are these pillars that keep Duolingo moving forward?

Learners first
Our learners inspire everything we do! After all, our mission is to develop the best education in the world and to make it universally available. So, naturally, our product decisions are always made with excellent learner experience in mind. "Time Spent Learning Well", a proprietary metric we developed, ensures all of our product updates make the learning experience as effective as can be.

Prioritize ruthlessly
Good ideas are always in high supply around here-but how do we choose which ones to pursue? Simply put: data and experimentation. We're all about exploring what works, amending what doesn't, and letting go where needed.

Take the long view
We're firm believers in the bigger picture. Taking short-term gains over long-term goals? If it compromises those future goals-never! For example, putting our courses behind a paywall could have increased Duolingo's financial revenue upfront, but it would have been ultimately harmful for the company and, more importantly, for our learners. Maintaining a focus on the path forward is where we like to keep our attention!

Test it first
While we don't shy away from change, we do make updates with rigorous testing and clear intent. Informed decision-making paired with a culture of experimentation is what places Duolingo right at the cutting edge of language education. We learn continuously, adapt quickly, and test decisively.

Reduce complexity
There's not only beauty in simplicity-there's impact! From our internal communication style to our external product, we do our best to keep things easily understandable and accessible.

Ship it
Swift action transforms ideas into solutions at Duolingo. We value the balance between ideological perfection and pragmatic excellence, because that sweet spot allows us to innovate and improve at lightning speed.

Strive for excellence
Giving our best isn't just an expectation; it's a guarantee. And with that comes a carefully-fostered environment of trust and encouragement! We know that a world-changing product requires more than just skill. It calls for radical attitudes, too.

Be candid and kind
We embrace transparency and kindness as we collaborate, and we always assume good intent, even when ideas differ.

Explain why
It's one thing to set goals…it's another thing to understand the need behind them. We ensure every task, large or small, is connected to our broader strategy, because an informed team is a powerful one.

Embrace challenges
When the going gets tough, our resolve gets tougher! By maintaining perspective, trust in one another, and belief in the mission, we easily turn setbacks into opportunities, and opportunities into victories.

Never settle on talent
While natural gifts are always welcome at Duolingo, we value kindness, collaboration, and growth in addition to talent! Nurturing and investing in a skilled, diverse, and dynamic team is in our nature.

All for One, and One for All
Rallying around the goal of accessible education both ignites us and unites us. No matter the role, no matter the locale-we collaborate together, celebrate together, and succeed together.

We don't just live these principles, we are these principles! They're the fabric of our mission and the heart of who we are as people. If these principles resonate with you and your career goals… come join us!

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