Masters of The Turnaround: Kirill Bigai of Preply On How He Turned Crisis Into Success

Solve Real Problems: It’s critical to concentrate on addressing actual pain spots. At Preply, we saw that language learning was fragmented and created a platform that links students with genuine instructors for tailored, flexible sessions.

As part of my series about prominent entrepreneurs and executives that overcame adversity to achieve great success”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kirill Bigai.

Kirill Bigai is the co-founder and CEO of Preply, which is an online language-learning platform established in 2012. Originally from Ukraine, Bigai, along with his co-founders Dmytro Voloshyn and Serge Lukyanov, focused on revolutionizing language learning through the means of creating a platform that connects learners with tutors for personalized and real-time lessons. Under Bigai’s leadership, Preply has grown to feature over 40,000 tutors across 50 languages, serving learners in more than 180 countries. Using AI for efficient tutor-student pairing, Bigai has positioned Preply as a global leader, attracting major clients such as TikTok’s parent company Bytedance, Mercedes, and McKinsey.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory and how you grew up?

I was brought up in Ukraine, in a society that valued education and hard labor. My upbringing was characterized by curiosity and a drive to understand how things worked, which frequently involved disassembling toys or devices to examine what was inside. I was lucky to have a supportive family that fostered my interests, particularly in science and technology.

As I grew older, I became captivated with the concept of using technology to tackle real-world issues. Education, in particular, struck me as a field that might tremendously benefit from innovation. My early experiences taught me the value of perseverance, adaptation, and thinking big. These ideals have stuck with me and served as the cornerstone for what I do now at Preply, which is to connect individuals all around the world and enable them to achieve their language-learning objectives. These early teachings, along with a lifetime desire to learn and discover, have formed my journey.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Certainly! One of the most fascinating times of my work was when we launched Preply and saw the initial relationships between students and instructors. I recall a student writing to us, joyfully telling how they had their first lesson with a tutor from halfway across the world. It was a watershed event because it proved that technology could genuinely cross educational boundaries and bring people closer together, regardless of where they were.

What made it even more remarkable was recognizing the impact we were having — not just helping individuals learn languages but also allowing tutors to share their expertise and make a career. This insight instilled in me a strong sense of purpose and underlined why we founded Preply.

Moments like these continue to inspire me. They remind me of the need of perseverance and inventiveness in resolving real-world issues. Every day, I am delighted to be a part of the platform’s growth into a worldwide community that connects thousands of learners and instructors.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Absolutely. I think that success is never achieved alone; it is based on the support, inspiration, and advice of others. Dmytro Voloshyn, my co-founder, is one individual for whom I am extremely thankful. His technological expertise and strong commitment in our common vision for Preply have been critical in bringing the platform to life.

I recall a watershed moment in Preply’s early days when we were developing the notion of individualized language learning. Dmytro’s ability to turn ambitious concepts into scalable technologies was impressive. He did more than simply create the underlying platform; he encouraged us to think wider and more strategically about how technology might improve learning experiences.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

One of my favorite life lesson quotations is: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”* This proverb speaks to me deeply since business is a journey full of highs and lows, and this viewpoint has helped me navigate both.

When we first launched Preply, things didn’t always go as planned — technical hurdles, competition, and the need to continually innovate to fulfill our learners’ expectations. In those days, it was easy to become overwhelmed by failures or to become overly comfortable after reaching certain goals. This quote encouraged me to maintain balance, focus, and resilience.

It’s been a tremendous reminder that every challenge is a chance to learn and grow, and that every accomplishment is a stepping stone, not the end of the path. It has influenced my approach to leading Preply, encouraging a culture of perseverance and adaptation. Finally, this approach has been critical to not just establishing a firm but also being passionate about its mission.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

As a corporate leader, three characteristics have been critical to my success: vision, flexibility, and resilience.

Preply’s success has relied heavily on its vision. When we first started in 2012, we noticed a gap in the way language learning was approached — there was potential to build a platform that made tailored, real-time learning available to everyone across the world. This vision guided every choice and kept us focused on our objective.

Adaptability has been critical in overcoming problems. For example, during the COVID-19 epidemic, we witnessed an enormous increase in online learning. To satisfy demand, we immediately expanded our operations and developed new features. Adapting to shifting circumstances enabled us to prosper during a period of uncertainty.

Resilience has kept me going during setbacks. Early on, we struggled with fundraising and generating traction. Instead of giving up, I worked to improve the product and communicate our potential to investors. That perseverance paid off, and Preply is now a global leader.

These characteristics have formed the foundation of my path and continue to guide me as a leader.

Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion about the tech tools that you are helping to create that can make a positive social impact on our educational systems. To begin, what problems are you aiming to solve?

Preply’s objective is to address two fundamental educational challenges: accessibility and customization. First, many people find language study inaccessible owing to geographical, financial, or resource constraints. We want to break down these boundaries by linking learners from all around the world with experienced teachers, no matter where they live. This strategy ensures that great education is not limited but is accessible to anybody with an internet connection.

Second, traditional schooling frequently lacks the flexibility to accommodate individual requirements. Every student has different objectives, timetables, and learning styles, yet many systems provide a one-size-fits-all answer. Preply uses technology, including AI, to deliver individualized learning experiences.

We ensure that education is more effective and enjoyable by pairing students with tutors who best fit their aims and tastes. Our objective is to make learning a lifetime process that is adaptive, effective, and accessible to everyone, allowing individuals to reach their full potential via language mastery.

How do you think your technology can address this?

At Preply, we think that technology can change education. Our platform employs cutting-edge AI to connect students with suitable teachers based on their learning preferences, goals, and personalities. This tailored method guarantees that each student receives the help they require, making language learning more efficient and fun.

Our technology also enables real-time, interactive classes, so students can study at their own pace and convenience, regardless of location. With over 40,000 teachers in 50 languages, our platform’s scalability guarantees that students always have access to the greatest resources for their specific requirements.

Furthermore, the AI-driven recommendations are always improving, resulting in a dynamic learning experience. This data-driven methodology improves learning outcomes while also providing useful insights into teaching efficacy. Finally, our technology enables both students and instructors to connect in ways that improve their educational journeys, making language learning more accessible, flexible, and individualized than ever before.

Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about education?

My enthusiasm for teaching stems from a strong belief that learning has the capacity to transform lives. Growing up in Ukraine, I witnessed directly how access to high-quality education can open doors and generate possibilities. However, I recognized that not everyone had equal access, particularly when it comes to language instruction. This piqued my interest in educational technology and how it may bridge the gap between students and instructors, regardless of geography or background.

The notion of linking students with tutors to provide individualized learning experiences appealed to me because I knew how important it is to study at your own speed and manner. Education has the ability to break down cultural, geographic, and economic barriers, and I wanted to be a part of a solution that made language learning more accessible and successful. Preply was founded on this concept, and our objective has been to help people all around the world accomplish their language learning goals through individualized, real-time education.

How do you think your technology might change the world?

I think that when utilized carefully, technology has the potential to make great changes in the world, particularly in how people interact, learn, and grow. Preply uses AI and data to deliver tailored, accessible learning experiences. We help people overcome language hurdles and open doors to new possibilities by pairing them with the proper teachers based on their specific needs. This can have a knock-on impact, from improving employment possibilities to encouraging greater global communication and understanding.

As more individuals get access to great education, particularly in marginalized communities, I believe technology has the ability to level the playing field. It has the potential to democratize learning, making it both more efficient and inclusive. I am sure that technology can create good change by continuing to develop and improving how we link people with knowledge, empowering individuals, increasing cultural exchange, and creating a more interconnected world. It is more than just studying languages; it is also about bridging cultural gaps.

Keeping the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

When examining the “Law of Unintended Consequences,” it is critical to recognize that, while technology, particularly AI, might provide tremendous advantages, it also has potential negatives. One of the primary worries about AI, as seen in Preply’s tutor-student pairing system, is the possibility of reinforcing prejudices. AI algorithms are based on data, and if the data isn’t representative or faulty, they may unintentionally favor certain groups over others, resulting in inequity or misrepresentation.

There is also concern about overreliance on technology. As AI becomes more interwoven into daily life, there is a risk that people may rely too much on technology, ignoring the human aspects of learning, creativity, and problem-solving. This might lead to a lack of critical thinking abilities or a separation from the personal, sympathetic connection that makes education really transformational.

As AI technology advances, privacy issues may develop, particularly for platforms that gather user data. It is critical to ensure that adequate protections are in place to secure user data from abuse or breaches. We must constantly be proactive in dealing with these unforeseen repercussions.

How do you envision the landscape of education evolving over the next decade, and how does your technology fit into that future?

As we move ahead, I believe the landscape of education will continue to evolve toward more individualized, accessible, and technology-driven instruction. With breakthroughs in AI, machine learning, and data analytics, education will become more personalized, allowing students to study at their own pace and in the style that best suits them.

Preply’s technology is at the forefront of this shift. We are already generating a more customized and efficient learning experience by utilizing AI to match learners with the most appropriate teachers in real time. Over the next decade, I envision this technique evolving, with even more seamless AI integration to constantly enhance the learning process.

In addition to AI, I predict further expansion in global learning platforms, which will break down geographical barriers and democratize access to high-quality education. Preply’s capacity to link students with over 40,000 tutors in more than 50 languages demonstrates our dedication to making education more inclusive and successful. We are thrilled to be a part of this educational revolution.

Here is the main question for our discussion. Based on your experience and success, can you please share “Five things you need to know to successfully create technology that can make a positive social impact”? (Please share a story or an example, for each.)

Absolutely, I’d be delighted to offer my ideas on developing technology with a beneficial social impact. Here are five important things I’ve learned:

1. Solve Real Problems: It’s critical to concentrate on addressing actual pain spots. At Preply, we saw that language learning was fragmented and created a platform that links students with genuine instructors for tailored, flexible sessions.
2. Empathy Is Essential: Technology should be created with empathy. Our platform connects learners from varied backgrounds with tutors who understand their specific requirements, making learning more successful.
3. Utilize AI Responsibly: At Preply, we utilize AI to link tutors with students, but it is critical that technology complements rather than replaces human contact. This provides a tailored experience while being efficient.
4. Ensure accessibility: Technology must be inclusive. We ensured that Preply is available internationally, making language learning accessible to anybody, wherever.
5. Iterate and adapt: No technology is flawless at launch. Preply continues to adapt in response to user input, ensuring that we remain relevant to our learners’ evolving requirements.

In the realm of EdTech, there’s often data collection involved. How do you ensure the ethical handling of user data, especially when it concerns students?

In the domain of EdTech, I place a high value on ensuring the ethical treatment of user data, particularly when it comes to kids. Preply prioritizes user privacy and transparency throughout our data acquisition process. First and foremost, we carefully adhere to all applicable data protection requirements, including GDPR and other privacy laws, to guarantee that our users’ personal information is treated safely and properly.

We gather data only when required and for the purpose of improving the learning experience, such as increasing tutor-student matching or providing personalized courses. We ensure that our users understand what data we gather, why we collect it, and how it will be used. Consent is always obtained before any data is gathered.

In addition, we deploy extensive security procedures to secure user data from unwanted access or abuse. As a company, we are committed to maintaining our consumers’ confidence by ensuring that their personal and learning data is always treated with the utmost privacy and integrity.

If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?

If I could only give young people one reason why they should consider making a good difference in our environment or society, it would be this: our choices now affect the world we live in future. When we take responsibility for the environment and society, we are not just improving the present, but also building a future that we can all be proud of. Every tiny effort, whether it’s reducing waste, supporting local communities, or advocating for good change, adds up to a greater movement that has the potential to improve the world.

The influence we create does not have to be big, but it must be significant. In reality, when young people like us take action, we may encourage others to follow suit, resulting in a domino effect that can lead to tremendous societal change. The more we invest in solutions that benefit both people and the environment, the brighter our common future will become. It is about making decisions that are responsible, ethical, and compassionate. If we all do our share, the strength of unity may bring about positive change.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

If I could have a private breakfast or lunch with anyone, I would choose Elon Musk. His vision for the future, as well as his ability to change many sectors, from space flight to electric automobiles, has always inspired me. I respect his unwavering determination and ability to make big ideas into reality. A talk with him would be intriguing, not only to discuss creativity, but also to learn about the mindset that drives such transformational undertakings.

I feel there is a lot to learn from his approach to leadership, resiliency, and problem resolution. Over a lunch, I’d want to hear his ideas on the role of technology in determining the future of education, as well as how firms like Preply can contribute to global change.

It would be a really beneficial and enlightening exchange. If you see this, Elon, I would be pleased to connect!

How can our readers further follow your work online?

They can follow my work online through Preply’s Instagram Channel (https://www.instagram.com/preply/ ) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/preply/ ). Lastly we also post all the major updates at Preply’s website (https://preply.com/ ).

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success in your important work.

Thank you so much for having me! It is a true honor to share our experience and the work we have been doing at Preply.