Preply CEO Kirill Bigai Prioritizes Hiring for 118 Open Roles

Kirill Bigai, CEO and co-founder of the language-learning startup Preply, is dedicating 50% to 60% of his time this quarter to hiring. The company, which reached a valuation of $1.2 billion in January and employs more than 800 people, is currently filling 118 open positions, including senior engineering and AI research roles.

Bigai utilizes a specific interview playbook to evaluate candidates, focusing on whether applicants are running toward new opportunities or away from previous ones. This process emphasizes ambition and ownership over blame, guided by ten core principles centered on boldness and collaboration.

To foster a culture of growth, Bigai employs a STAR framework for behavioral questions and promotes a disagree and commit management philosophy. He aims to create an environment where employees can challenge one another openly to drive company progress.