Senior Social Media Manager Zarvia Parvez announces departure from language learning specialist Duolingo

Zarvia Parvez has left language learning app Duolingo, where she spent just over five years and held the role of Global Senior Social Media Manager.

In a LinkedIn post, she said: "After five unforgettable years, eight billion impressions and even more jaw drops - it's time to take off the suit. Fresh out of college in 2020, I led Duolingo’s evolution into a social first brand, turning organic social into a growth engine that drove waves of new users. Its social helped catapult the company’s market cap to nearly 7× in just five years by breaking into culture as an unexpected disruptor."

She added: "It's been a privilege working alongside a phenomenal team that lifted me up and made the impossible feel routine. You all taught me how to fly and own my power every single day. As for the what, why, who, when, and how…I’m saving all that for the book. So yes, I’m no longer Zaria from Duolingo. I’ll mourn that for a while. For now, I’m just Zaria. But, then again, maybe there's nothing “just” about it. Adiós."

Parvze did not reveal her next port of call.

Luis von Ahn

Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn has come under fire this year after declaring that Duolingo would become an “AI first company".

However, in a new interview he said that he “did not give enough context.” “Internally, this was not controversial,” von Ahn told The New York Times. “Externally, as a publicly traded company some people assume that it’s just for profit. Or that we’re trying to lay off humans. And that was not the intent at all.”

He added that the company has “never laid off any full-time employees” and has no intention of doing so, although he did not deny that the contractor workforce had been cut.

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

AI will be a key focus area at our sister title RTIH’s 2025 Innovation Awards.

The awards, which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.