--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our team at Duolingo is really cohesive…" description: "\"Our team at Duolingo is really cohesive, but this did not just happen. I made a concerted effort to hire people who are going to play nice.\" — Luis von..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/luis-von-ahn-19198_did_our-team-at-duolingo-is-really-cohesive_44099.png" --- # Our team at Duolingo is really cohesive, but this did not… ![“Our team at Duolingo is really cohesive, but this did not just happen. I made a concerted effort to hire people who are going to play nice.” quote by Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/luis-von-ahn-19198_did_our-team-at-duolingo-is-really-cohesive_44099.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/luis-von-ahn-19198_did_our-team-at-duolingo-is-really-cohesive_44099.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/luis-von-ahn-19198_did_our-team-at-duolingo-is-really-cohesive_44099.png) > “Our team at Duolingo is really cohesive, but this did not just happen. I made a concerted effort to hire people who are going to play nice.” [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Building a cohesive team requires deliberate hiring of collaborative personalities, not just chance. **In simple terms:** Intentional hiring fosters teamwork. Key Takeaway Culture is engineered, not accidental. Themes team dynamics leadership hiring strategy organizational culture collaboration Mood optimistic pragmatic Type leadership insight organizational advice When to use this quote - startup scaling - remote team formation - cross-functional project - post-merger integration Key Concepts cohesion selection behavioral fit Practical Applications - HR policy design - team-building workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does hiring for fit affect performance? - What metrics reveal cultural health? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) ## Related quotes > [Hire people more for their judgment than for their talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/hire-people-more-for-their-judgment-than-for-their-talents/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [They don't send people from large corporations to hire people to make sculptures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/they-don-t-send-people-from-large-corporations-to-hire-people-to-make/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [We want to hire people who are self-learners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-yuan/we-want-to-hire-people-who-are-self-learners/) [Eric Yuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-yuan/) > [Recognize the skills and traits you don't possess, and hire the people who have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/recognize-the-skills-and-traits-you-don-t-possess-and-hire-the-people/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [“Don’t hire people just to fit the first job they will do; hire people you want to share your life with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/don-t-hire-people-just-to-fit-the-first-job-they-will-do-hire-people/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [You'll have to hire people to expand your business. But it's a good discipline to really question if you need each and every hire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/you-ll-have-to-hire-people-to-expand-your-business-but-it-s-a-good/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [We hire people who are freaks. They don't have social lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/we-hire-people-who-are-freaks-they-don-t-have-social-lives/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [I always make sure I hire people smarter than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aliko-dangote/i-always-make-sure-i-hire-people-smarter-than-me/) [Aliko Dangote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aliko-dangote/) > [Hire people you get along with, and then let them do what they do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/hire-people-you-get-along-with-and-then-let-them-do-what-they-do-best/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) > [As an individual, you know what you are good at and what you're not good at, so over time as you are hiring, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-maybank/as-an-individual-you-know-what-you-are-good-at-and-what-you-re-not/) [Alexis Maybank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-maybank/) > [Hire people who are better than you are, then leave them to get on with it. Look for people who will aim for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/hire-people-who-are-better-than-you-are-then-leave-them-to-get-on/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [Only hire people you want to have dinner with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/only-hire-people-you-want-to-have-dinner-with/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [I hire people brighter than me and then I get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-hire-people-brighter-than-me-and-then-i-get-out-of-their-way/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [Always hire people who are better than you. Hiring dummies is shortsighted. You can't move up the ladder until everyone is comfortable with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-wyse/always-hire-people-who-are-better-than-you-hiring-dummies-is/) [Lois Wyse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-wyse/) > [Whatever I have is because of the people who are watching me. I don't have a PR agency, I don't have a manager, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-massey/whatever-i-have-is-because-of-the-people-who-are-watching-me-i-don-t/) [Vikrant Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-massey/) ## More by Luis von Ahn > [I am always able to keep a laser focus on one thing at a time without getting distracted. It helps that I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-am-always-able-to-keep-a-laser-focus-on-one-thing-at-a-time-without/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [If you get asked to do something that would take place down the road (say you get asked to speak at a conference that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/if-you-get-asked-to-do-something-that-would-take-place-down-the-road/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [People are good at figuring out what's attractive, and computers are good at quickly searching and finding. You put them together, and bang!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/people-are-good-at-figuring-out-what-s-attractive-and-computers-are/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [In 2011, after spending a couple of years working at Google, I decided that I wanted to dedicate myself to helping to transform education.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/in-2011-after-spending-a-couple-of-years-working-at-google-i-decided/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [I watch a lot of TV. That's how I spend most of my time outside of work. If I had more time, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-watch-a-lot-of-tv-that-s-how-i-spend-most-of-my-time-outside-of/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [My first computer was a Commodore 64. I got it as a present from my mom when I was eight years old, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/my-first-computer-was-a-commodore-64-i-got-it-as-a-present-from-my/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [Basically, I want to make all of humanity more efficient by exploiting the human cycles that get wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/basically-i-want-to-make-all-of-humanity-more-efficient-by-exploiting/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [I worked on a number of projects that were used by millions of people and that also served as inspiration to what we now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-worked-on-a-number-of-projects-that-were-used-by-millions-of-people/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [Am I a slacker? I can be a slacker. When I was in college, most people got summer jobs for college or did research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/am-i-a-slacker-i-can-be-a-slacker-when-i-was-in-college-most-people/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [I co-founded Duolingo with the mission of bringing free language education to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-co-founded-duolingo-with-the-mission-of-bringing-free-language/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [My ultimate research goal is to transform our human existence to just eating, sleeping, drinking, playing - nevermind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/my-ultimate-research-goal-is-to-transform-our-human-existence-to-just/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [ The question that motivates my research is, if we can put a man on the Moon with 100,000 \[people\], what can we do with 100 million? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/the-question-that-motivates-my-research-is-if-we-can-put-a-man-on-the/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [I am an early riser, and always wake up between 5 and 6am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-am-an-early-riser-and-always-wake-up-between-5-and-6am/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [Before the Internet, coordinating more than 100,000 people, let alone paying them, was essentially impossible. But now with the Internet, I've just shown you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/before-the-internet-coordinating-more-than-100-000-people-let-alone/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [It's hard to think of a time when I'm not working, but when that is the case, I like to travel and eat good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/it-s-hard-to-think-of-a-time-when-i-m-not-working-but-when-that-is/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) [Explore all 33 Luis von Ahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) ## More Did quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Here we are 17 years later. Those agencies never did come through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/here-we-are-17-years-later-those-agencies-never-did-come-through/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [You didn't want to laugh, did you? It wasn't very funny, was it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-kennedy/you-didn-t-want-to-laugh-did-you-it-wasn-t-very-funny-was-it/) [Graham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-kennedy/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [I am excited to partner with Aeropostale for my very own collection. It was a great experience to be able to work with them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-mota/i-am-excited-to-partner-with-aeropostale-for-my-very-own-collection/) [Bethany Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-mota/) > [When we built Roomba, we explicitly designed it to not have a face. We didn't want to think it was cute; we wanted people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-angle/when-we-built-roomba-we-explicitly-designed-it-to-not-have-a-face-we/) [Colin Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-angle/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) Browse all 4,331 Did quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our team at Duolingo is really cohesive, but this did not just happen. 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