Duolingo Social Media Lead Zaria Parvez Resigns
:## Duolingo‘s Social Media Star Departs After Five Years of Viral Success
by victoria Sterling, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Chief Editor
Duolingo, the popular language learning app, is navigating a transition in its marketing leadership. Zaria parvez, Senior Global Social Media Manager, has left the company after five years of transformative work, confirmed by duolingo to Adweek. Her last day was Friday, August 15th.
Parvez announced her departure on her LinkedIn page on Monday,reflecting on a tenure marked by significant growth and a bold brand identity. “After five unforgettable years, 8 billion impressions and even more jaw-drops-it’s time to take off the suit,” she wrote. She expressed gratitude for the team that supported her, stating, “It’s been a privilege working alongside a phenomenal team that lifted me up and made the unachievable feel routine. You all taught me how to fly & own my power every single day. As for the what, why, who, when, and how…I’m saving all that for the book.”
Duolingo plans to fill Parvez’s role, which sits within the brand marketing team. The company is currently hiring for two additional positions on the team of ten,alongside the backfill for Parvez’s position.
Parvez joined Duolingo in 2020 as a Global Social Media Coordinator, quickly rising through the ranks to become Senior global Social Media Manager in 2023. her leadership was instrumental in the app’s evolution into a “social-first brand,” turning organic social media into a powerful driver of user acquisition. According to her LinkedIn post, this strategy contributed to a nearly sevenfold increase in the company’s market cap over the past five years.Under Parvez’s direction,Duolingo’s social media presence became known for its playful and frequently enough unexpected antics. From the now-iconic Duolingo owl ”dancing in the pit at Charli XCX’s Sweat tour” and “trolling Drake,” to a memorable (and humorous) storyline involving the owl being “killed by a Tesla Cybertruck and coming back to life,” and even a cameo “entering the Love Island USA villa,” Duolingo consistently captured attention and generated buzz.
“When you see a dancing owl on TikTok, the first thing people think is Duolingo,” a spokesperson shared with Adweek. This level of brand recognition is a testament to the innovative and engaging social media strategy spearheaded by Parvez.
Her departure marks the end of an era for Duolingo’s social media, but the foundation she built promises to continue driving growth and engagement for the language learning platform.