What happens when a green owl, a handful of improv rules, and zero fear collide? You get Duolingo, the internet’s most unhinged, hilarious, and effective brand.

Zaria Parvez is the creative force behind that chaos. As Duolingo’s first-ever social media hire, she helped grow the brand from 50,000 to over 16 million followers, turning a dusty owl costume in the office into one of the most recognizable (and meme-worthy) characters on the planet.

She opens up about how she built a culture of creativity rooted in improv, boldness, and trust. She shares how her team turned social media into the heartbeat of the brand and why “fear is the most expensive mistake” in marketing.

You’ll learn:

> The wild origin story behind Death by Duo, the campaign that hit 1.7 billion impressions with no paid ads.

> How Zaria uses improv comedy principles to fuel creativity, collaboration, and confidence.

> Why giving social teams approval power and autonomy is the key to moving at the speed of culture.

Whether you’re a marketer, creator, or someone who just loves a good brand story, this episode will change the way you think about creativity online.

Acquired by Atlassian in 2023, Loom is an AI-powered video communication tool for work that lets users record and share videos quickly and easily. Loom helps teams stay connected across time zones and boosts productivity. Visit Loom.com for more information.

Follow Zaria:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaria-parvez-645983140/

Follow Daniel:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing/

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Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Sharon O’Dea

The AI-powered Podcast Player