If you work at Duolingo, you’re a “Duo.” And if you are a Duo, I want you to feel like you really belong. Belonging is a key part of accomplishing our mission: to deliver the best education in the world and make it universally available. We invest heavily in belonging because it is the principle that connects every Duo to the company, each other, and that mission.

At Duolingo, our People Team is entrusted with leading the efforts to support and partner with Duos to cultivate belonging. This is both business-critical and the right thing to do. It’s an essential way to drive our collective success and attract extraordinary, mission-driven talent. That’s why I take the responsibility of cultivating belonging especially seriously.

Why we care about and invest in belonging 
Duolingo is an international company with learners using our app all over the world, so we strive for a company that reflects the diversity of our reach. We believe that a diverse team thrives when everyone feels included and connected—united by a common mission. A diverse team with diverse perspectives also benefits the company because it helps us serve our vast user base with experiential knowledge.  

Below are just a few ways our People Team fosters belonging through experiences and opportunities to engage with each other and the Duolingo mission.

Driving connections around shared identities & interests 

With Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) (e.g., LGBTQIA+, Women@Duolingo, International) we support and enable Duos to gather and connect. Our Clubs Program (e.g., Mental Health, Volunteer, Nails) offers a chance for Duos to deepen connections with shared experiences and interests. And our company-wide events create universal experiences for every Duo.

Company-wide experiences
Our company-wide events are designed to create shared experiences that connect new Duos ("Nuos") and reconnect tenured Duos. 

Our global team converges at HQ in Pittsburgh each year for a week-long celebration of our anniversary. One of my favorite events is the ERG Welcome Breakfast, which kicks off the week. It's the one time a year where all ERG members, executive sponsors, and allies gather together. What I enjoy most is how this event highlights the diversity and intersectionality of our team as well as our commitment to allyship.

Learning opportunities and special events
We regularly organize virtual and in-person experiences around cultural education and professional development. Some of my favorite sessions include "Women in Leadership," hosted by our Women@Duolingo ERG, and our "History of East Liberty" discussion, hosted by the Duolingo B.L.A.C. ERG. For that panel, Duolingo  B.L.A.C. brought together acclaimed author Damon Young, Pittsburgh Councilperson Khari Mosely, Kelauni Jasmyn of Black Tech Nation Ventures, and our CEO, Luis, to explore the history of the Black community in East Liberty, the current dynamics shaping the community, and potential strategies to foster a more inclusive and diverse local tech ecosystem. 

Plus, if you know Duolingo, then you know we love a good party. Most events are followed by in-person happy hours that allow Duos to just have fun and unwind. This is in addition to regular happy hours and “Wednesdays at Duo’s Taqueria” where Duos eat and drink for free from 5-7pm weekly. 

Workplace experience

An essential part of belonging at Duolingo is our commitment to maintaining an open line of communication for Duos to give feedback. 

  • We provide regular forums for groups of Duos with shared interests to provide insights into how we can support a great workplace experience. 
  • We host company-wide Q&A sessions with our CEO.
  • We offer forums that encourage dialogue with our ERGs and clubs. 

At one Q&A session with the Mental Health Club, Sean Devlin, our VP of Workplace, joined to get feedback and input on his plan for a build-out of our New York office, which included designs for new sensory-friendly spaces, like a library, phone booths, and nooks designed to reduce sensory overload for neurodivergent Duos. 

Our Workplace Team has done a phenomenal job, and we’re taking other intentional steps to deliver an inclusive workplace experience that encourages collaboration & connection. These include:

  • Social spaces with a diversity of media including books and music, that cater to Duos. There’s even a collection sourced by our ERGs!
  • Ergonomic setups and accessibility work station accommodations.
  • Gender-neutral bathrooms, parenting rooms, and wellness rooms.
  • An international lunch program where Duos collaborate with our chef in the curation of menus showcasing different cultures while being considerate of a variety of tastes and dietary restrictions.

Team and individual experiences 

We invest in learning programs and opportunities that directly impact how we work together. Our Talent Development team offers training for managers and leads on building inclusive teams, and we provide Duos with learning experiences centered on topics such as allyship and being an inclusive leader. We offer both craft-based and peer-based mentorship programs supporting the professional development of Duos at all levels. 

Our Social Impact team also runs a program called DuoTrips. DuoTrips are week-long international trips with small groups of Duos that include cultural exploration, encourage connections to other Duos, and foster understanding of our learners and our connection to the company mission. Currently, we have DuoTrips to Berlin, Mexico City, and Paris.

If you're looking to join a mission-driven company, where you can bring your whole self to work, gain meaningful connections, and truly belong, we're hiring. See our open roles here.