Kirill Bigai on the hiring playbook behind Preply's growth

Bigai, who cofounded the firm in 2012, views hiring as the foundational element of leadership. He avoids taking standard interview answers at face value, instead using follow-up questions to probe whether a candidate takes ownership of their career decisions or shifts blame toward managers and market conditions. He prioritizes individuals who articulate a clear vision of what they want to achieve rather than those focused on past workplace grievances.

Beyond behavioral inquiries—often structured around the STAR framework of situation, task, action, and result—Bigai assesses how candidates navigate professional relationships. He specifically looks for insights into how a previous manager would describe their strengths. This vetting process aligns with Preply’s 10 core principles, categorized under ambition, boldness, and collaboration. Once hired, staff are expected to embrace a "disagree and commit" philosophy, a management style popularized by Jeff Bezos that encourages open internal debate followed by total alignment on final decisions.