Luis von Ahn, CEO, Duolingo, recently explained that the company’s hiring process begins long before a candidate enters the office. Speaking on The Burnouts podcast, he reportedly revealed that something as ordinary as how an applicant treats their airport driver can influence whether they are hired.
The idea is simple: unscripted interactions often reveal more about a person’s character than a formal interview. Von Ahn recalled a case when Duolingo was searching for a chief financial officer for nearly a year. One candidate looked perfect on paper and impressed during interviews. However, the company decided not to proceed after learning the candidate had treated the driver poorly.
The reasoning was straightforward—if someone is disrespectful to a driver, they are likely to behave the same way toward colleagues, especially those in junior roles. For Duolingo, leadership is not just about technical skills or polished interview answers; it is about how people treat others when they think no one important is watching.
This approach highlights the company’s emphasis on empathy and respect as core values. It also shows that hiring decisions can hinge on small, everyday actions that reflect a person’s true nature. By paying attention to these moments, Duolingo aims to ensure that its leaders and employees foster a culture of kindness and collaboration.
Clearly, Duolingo believes that the most telling part of an interview may not happen in the boardroom but in the car ride to it.
